Michael Jackson glove sells for $56,000

A GLOVE flung at an audience by Michael Jackson 13 years ago has sold in Melbourne for $56,000 - almost double original estimates.

A US buyer bidding by phone snapped up the bejewelled glove for well over the original $30,000 upper estimate at the sale this afternoon.

Jackson, who died in June aged 50, was in Sydney in 1996 for his HIStory world tour when he attended the Australian premiere for the film Ghosts, which he starred in.

Music journalist Peter Holmes and his friend Bill Hibble, seated close to Jackson's entourage, were among the few who laughed at the jokes featured in the film, and were rewarded with the bejewelled glove being flung in their direction by Jackson.

Hibble, now deceased, caught the entertainer's glove and the item will be auctioned today by auction house Bonhams and Goodman in Melbourne.

National head of collectables Giles Moon said earlier the glove was expected to fetch $20,000 to $30,000 but the amount of interest generated could push the figure higher.

Mr Moon said it was the first glove to be auctioned since Jackson's death, which has now been ruled a homicide.