The glittery iconic glove that Michael Jackson wore when he unveiled his moonwalk on TV in 1983 is going under the hammer.

This glove is unique because, unlike his others which were made for the right hand and adorned with hand-sewn crystals, this one is left-handed.

The modified, store-bought glove covered with a mesh of rhinestones accompanied Jackson's fedora and dance moves on Motown's 25th-anniversary TV special.

Darren Julien of Julien's Auctions has called the glove "the Holy Grail of Michael Jackson memorabilia."

The glove will be sold at the Music Icons auction at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City's Times Square, on November 21, according to the Associated Press.

It was donated by Walter 'Clyde' Orange, founder of the Commodores, who has had the glove since Jackson gave it to him backstage at the Motown special in 1983.

It will be up for sale alongside other unique items, including an early Madonna demo tape and unreleased Jimi Hendrix lyrics.

After Jackson's death on June 25 aged 50, Orange decided the glove was too significant to keep.

"There's a hundred other gloves out there, but this is the one you want. He blew up after that (performance) with Billie Jean," Orange, 62, said in an interview.

"The world should see this. This is the first. That's the song that made him shoot through the roof as a superstar."

Orange said he hopes the glove will find a permanent home at the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame or a similar institution.

And he's happy that proceeds from the sale will benefit MusiCares, an organization that helps musicians struggling with substance abuse.

"Just for the world to see it, that means the world to me," Orange said.