This weekend, a sports card featuring the signatures of two basketball legends fetched an astonishing price.
The card, which bears the autographs of Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant, sold for $12.933 million, breaking the previous record of $12.6 million held by a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card sold in August 2022, according to reports.
The 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman was highlighted as the second-highest sale in sports card history, just behind the Bay Blues jersey from 1932, which gained fame when it was used in a historic play.
Curiously, this sale took place on what would have been Bryant’s 47th birthday. The Lakers icon tragically lost his life in a helicopter crash on January 26, 2020.
Heritage Auctions facilitated the sale, but details about the buyer remain undisclosed.
Chris Ivy, the director of Heritage’s sports auction, commented that Upper Deck’s Exquisite set was groundbreaking, noting its appeal to collectors who desired high-quality items rather than gimmicks. He elaborated that innovations like patches, signatures, and logomen have been integral in shaping the market.
“Exquisite was the first of its kind, paving the way for modern card collectors. This particular card, featuring both Jordan and Bryant, is unique—it’s often viewed as the Holy Grail among collectors,” Ivy added.
Apart from the notable sale of the Jordan-Bryant card, other high-value moves were made over the weekend. Collector Matt Allen revealed he spent $4 million on a pristine logoman card signed by Bryant, a rare find in its own right.
