Alternate ‘Thriller’ Album Cover Photos

Discover a unique opportunity to own a piece of music history with the unveiling of alternate cover photographs from the “Thriller” album photoshoot. These five rare images, captured on July 22, 1982, by renowned photographer Dick Zimmerman, offer a fascinating glimpse into the creative journey of the iconic cover for the world’s best-selling album.

Each photograph, a Polaroid, represents a singular moment in history. Before the digital era, Polaroids provided immediate feedback for photographers, allowing them to adjust lighting, camera settings, or reposition their subjects. As such, each photograph is a one-of-a-kind, original artifact, not a mere print or reproduction. Among them is a noteworthy shot, taken just minutes before the final selected photo for the album cover, underscoring its historical significance. Michael and Quincy Jones chose the final shot to be used.

The auction features five of these extraordinary photos, with estimated bids ranging from $4,000 to $8,000 each. The photo preceding the final album cover is expected to attract bids between $10,000 and $20,000. Each photo is professionally framed in a shadowbox with an engraved plaque, accompanied by a letter of authenticity and a release of all copyrights from Dick Zimmerman.

Adding to this remarkable collection, the Hasselblad 500 ELX camera used in the photoshoot is also up for auction. This camera not only captured the essence of the “Thriller” cover but also witnessed other pivotal moments in Michael Jackson’s career, including his collaboration with Steven Spielberg on the E.T. album and his wedding to Lisa Marie Presley in the 1990s. The camera, accompanied by Zimmerman’s letter of authenticity, is expected to fetch between $10,000 and $20,000.

This auction presents an unparalleled chance to acquire artifacts from a pivotal moment in music history. Bidding is now open and will conclude on December 9th. This is an opportunity to own some of the rarest pieces of Michael Jackson’s history. Links to bid are below:

• Main cover polaroid
• Alternative cover 1
• Alternative cover 2
• Alternative cover 3
• Alternative cover 4
• Hasselblad camera

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