June 27 (Bloomberg) -- Michael Jackson memorabilia auctioned off the day after his death fetched $205,000, exceeding original estimates of $10,000 to $12,000.

The auction, planned before the entertainer’s June 25 death, included a sheer, long-sleeve shirt worn on his 1984 “Victory” tour and a handwritten letter, according to an e- mail today from Darren Julien, chief executive officer of West Hollywood, California-based Julien’s Auctions.

The prices underscore the heightened interest in Jackson’s music and memorabilia following his death from a suspected cardiac arrest this week in Los Angeles. Albums featuring Jackson, who died at age 50, occupied the top 14 rankings for best-selling music at Amazon.com Inc. today, according to the Seattle-based retailer’s Web site.

“Michael was highly collectible in the first place,” Julien said in an interview. “We actually contemplated pulling the lots after his death. We didn’t want anyone to think we were taking advantage of the situation, but a fan told us, we need to celebrate Michael’s life.”

The custom long-sleeve shirt was expected to sell for $1,000 to $1,500 and went for $52,500, Julien’s said. It has a white spandex lining and is completely covered in small pearls on one side and a combination of pearls and Swarovski crystal on the other. It was created by designer Bill Whitten and was once part of the collection of David Gest, former husband of Liza Minnelli, according to the auction house.

Handwritten Letter

The handwritten letter had a presale estimate of $200 to $300 and sold for $12,500, the company said. Other items included a pencil drawing of a boy by Jackson, the company said previously.

Julien’s Auctions is the same company that planned an April sale of about 2,000 items owned by Jackson before a lawsuit scuttled that effort.

The items being sold yesterday ware part of a larger auction that included Elvis Presley collectibles and movie memorabilia, the company said.

Jackson was pronounced dead at the UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center after suffering an apparent cardiac arrest, the hospital said. Results of an autopsy conducted yesterday will be announced after toxicology tests are completed in six to eight weeks, Los Angeles County Coroner’s spokesman Craig Harvey said yesterday at a briefing.

Mickey Mouse Painting

Other Jackson items sold yesterday include an acrylic on cardboard painting of the Walt Disney Co. character Mickey Mouse conducting Pluto singing, Julien’s said. The board is signed in the lower right, first in black paint “Michael Jackson” and then in white paint “Mike Jackson” over the first signature, the company said.

The painting, measuring 25.5 inches by 19.5 inches, had been estimated by Julien’s to sell for $1,000 to $1,500 and ultimately went for $25,000.

A copy of a Motown Records LP produced to coincide with the Jackson 5’s September 1971 “Goin’ Back to Indiana” prime-time ABC-TV special sold for $33,750, compared with the Julien’s estimate of $400 to $600. It is signed in black permanent pen by Tito, Marlon, Jackie, Michael, and Jermaine Jackson, who are all featured on the cover, the auctioneer said.

The album also includes the signature of Randy Jackson, who officially joined the band when he replaced Jermaine in the 1970s, Julien’s said.

To contact the reporter on this story: Michael White in Los Angeles at mwhite@bloomberg.net.

Last Updated: June 27, 2009 17:47 EDT