Auction Buzz
Auction Buzz: Michael Jordan's debut, iconic views, rare Pokemon, Hellyboy's Big Baby & more on block via Heritage
Auction Buzz is a monthly look at some of the variety found out there on the auction block ... check 'em out.
It's going to be a busy end of the year for Dallas-based Heritage Auctions with a number of regularly scheduled events as well as some showcase auctions with high-profile stuff all on the calendar. This time, we look at a few things from a few active sales this month.
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ANOTHER BIG JORDAN
The Item: Michael Jordan Oct. 26, 1984 (NBA Debut) Chicago Bulls season-ticket stub (PSA 4)
The Price: $65,000 after 25 bids (ends Sept. 27)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Last month, a Michael Jordan (and Kobe Bryant) card sale via auction re-wrote some hobby history and, while we're confident this one won't fetch $12.9 million, this one is in some rare air. It has already hit its estimated price from the auction house and while its grade is low there are only three higher. "The most important athletic debut of the post-war era?" asked Heritage in its listing. "A strong argument could be made. Perhaps only Wayne Gretzky could challenge Michael Jordan in balloting seeking to identify the most dominant figure of his respective major sport, but once you step outside the sports arena and into the wider popular culture, M.J. leaves The Great One in his dust. He remains one of the most recognizable humans on the planet two decades after his retirement from the NBA." Jordan scored a modest 16 points in a 109-93 win over the Washington Bullets on this night and only 14 of these have been grade overall.Keep reading for more interesting pieces up for grabs right now.
Auction Buzz: Autographs and more up for grabs via Block
Sometimes, you just have to know where to look.
A long-time Detroit-area collector's treasures -- a mix of in-person autographs and pick-ups from the 1980s and early 1990s that were part of a private "sports museum" -- are all up for grabs right now in the Block Auction House "Autographed Sports Memorabilia Auction: Icons of Baseball, Football, Basketball & More."
The selection of 450 lots from the Ferndale, Mich.-based company is live for the next six days. It includes a number of autographs from the Score Board days and many other signing sessions in the years before Upper Deck Authenticated and other companies arrived with stickered/databased sigs. Some top items do have BAS Signature Review and some have UDA stickering, though the collection as a whole might make for some bargain shopping/flipping if buyers later get pieces full third-party authentication. (A number of these lots are simply Score Board pieces where the certificate is no longer a companion to the item.)
Keep reading for a gallery of a few pieces that are live now.
Kobe Bryant & Michael Jordan dual-Logoman 1/1 autograph sells for $12.9M via Heritage -- new record for any sports card
Update: The card sold for $12,932,000 -- an all-time record for any sports card -- at 1:45 a.m. Sunday morning.
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It's already topped the $7-million mark with time to go before the auction ends tomorrow night, but there's no telling the heights this card might reach.
There's a realistic chance that the Michael Jordan and Kobe Bryant 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs card will become the priciest sports card of all time -- not just priciest basketball card ever -- when the dust settles at ends Heritage Auctions on Saturday and it's really only got two rivals.
Right now, with its buyer's premium attached, this card sits at $7,015,000 after 46 bids (click to view) and that already gives it the title of the biggest basketball card of all time. The previous NBA high was for a similar modern card, a 2009-10 Panini National Treasures Steph Curry Logoman auto, that sold privately for $5.9 million to an investment fund July 2021.
And there aren't too many past auctions that top that.
Auction Buzz: Big cards, iconic images & debuts via Heritage
Auction Buzz is a monthly look at some of the variety found out there on the auction block ... check 'em out.
It's going to be a busy second half of the year for Dallas-based Heritage Auctions with a number of regularly scheduled events as well as some showcase auctions with high-profile stuff all on the calendar. This time, we look at a few things from a few active sales this month.
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AS BIG AS IT GETS
The Item: Michael Jordan & Kobe Bryant 2007-08 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs (1/1) -- PSA 6
The Price: $4,150,000 after 32 bids (ends Aug. 23)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This one has plenty of time remaining but as you can tell it's already one of the biggest monsters to ever hit the auction block -- and that's with the grade that, well, would be a bummer on any other card from the modern era. But, with game-used NBA logos from two of the game's all-time greats and their ink? Well, it's all about the card, not that dinged corner. "Do you hear that rumbling? It's the sound of the standing world record price for a basketball card getting ready to fall," Heritage said in its listing. "For five years, the 2009-10 National Treasures Steph Curry logoman autograph card has enjoyed the view from the top of the heap, the $5.9 million private sale to an investment fund in July 2021 demonstrating the virtually unlimited elasticity of the market's upper edge. ... We're proud and privileged here at Heritage for the opportunity to take the title back for the auction world," Heritage continued, "providing the manner of competition and high drama that private transactions lack, and which serves as a far more fitting tribute to the iconic subjects this remarkable trading card celebrates." ... This one is estimated by Heritage to top the $6-million mark when it's sold.
Keep reading for more interesting pieces up for grabs right now.
Auction Buzz: Nirvana, Star Wars, Batman, The Fantastic Four and more all up for grabs right now via Heritage Auctions
Auction Buzz is a monthly look at some of the variety found out there on the auction block ... check 'em out.
It's going to be a busy second half of the year for Dallas-based Heritage Auctions with a number of regularly scheduled events as well as some showcase auctions with high-profile stuff all on the calendar. This time, we look at a few things from a few active sales this month.
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DARK KNIGHT IN DEMAND
The Item: Batman tin robot with original English box (Nomura Toys, 1966)
The Price: $5,250 after 29 bids (ends July 11)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: This vintage Japanese toy is a foot-tall prime piece of pop culture with an obvious 1960s feel yet with some aspirations of something more for the future -- it's a battery operated tin toy and it's complete with its Adam West-styled box and fabric cape. This one is "an iconic fusion of superhero flair and vintage tin toy charm" per Heritage and it's one of two known styles -- this one has the serious face and one with the switch button in red. Heritage calls this "a standout from the golden age of Batman collectibles, blending Japanese craftsmanship with Gotham nostalgia."Keep reading for more interesting pieces up for grabs right now.
Goldin expands pop culture presence with Studio Auctions buy
RUNNEMEDE, N.J. – Goldin, an internationally renowned auction house known for rare and record-breaking collectible sales, today announces the acquisition of Studio Auctions, a boutique auction house specializing in one-of-a-kind Hollywood and pop culture memorabilia.
The deal marks Goldin’s first major acquisition since joining the eBay portfolio in May 2024, and expands its selection of authenticated entertainment assets -- reinforcing its leadership across the collectibles category.
Patrick Mahomes' Panini Stained Glass hits Goldin as 1/1 piece
Football season is almost here and one simple sign of that is more cardboard -- new and old -- popping up online, on social media and elsewhere.
But one football find over on Goldin right now is one that, well, is simply bigger and bolder than all the rest. It's an ode to Patrick Mahomes, the QB of the reigning Super Bowl champion Kansas City Chiefs, and it's a new work from renowned Marvel mosaic artist Matthew DiMasi, who works in a unique media ... glass.
This take on Panini America's 2023 Panini Mosaic Stained Glass insert -- a rarity in and of itself (click to view at left) -- is a little different than its card-sized counterpart. It's 46 inches tall, 33 inches wide and it weighs 120 pounds -- and it will end up in a collection soon. It's also guaranteed to be a one-of-a-kind creation as the artist will not revisit any of his creations.
PSA acquires eBay Vault, eBay acquires Goldin Auctions
Some hobby heavyweights are teaming up ... for good.
eBay announced on Wednesday that "a series of transactions" are in place that include the sale of Goldin from Collectors to eBay, and the sale of the eBay Vault to PSA.
"The differentiated and complementary strengths of the respective companies will support more streamlined buying, selling, grading and storage experiences for all who participate in the trading card hobby in the United States," read the company's announcement. "These deals represent a compelling opportunity to accelerate innovation in the industry and enable game-changing benefits for collectors. Together, eBay and PSA will offer a full, seamless, customer-centric product experience for the collecting community that will be unveiled over the coming months."
Auction Buzz: AMT Memorabilia eBay exclusive event is live
Some modern-day grail items and some vintage classics are all up for grabs right now ... via eBay and AMT Memorabilia.
Among the nearly 1,500 items live now? A pair of Mike Trout patch-auto books, rare slabbed ink from the likes of Jackson Chourio and Jackson Holliday and even a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle with a little bit of everything in between.
Keep reading for the basics and a gallery of a few notables that are live now.
Auction Buzz: Iconic cards from all eras up for grabs Sunday
Sure, today and this week is about the newest of the new in 2023 Topps, but Wheatland Auction Services has some of the biggest of the big cards up for grabs in an auction ending on Sunday.
Everything from iconic Hall of Famer tobacco cards like Ty Cobb above -- a card presently at $7,500 -- to slabbed Rookie Cards of the Super Bowl QBs, Patrick Mahomes and Jalen Hurts are all presently on the auction block beginning at just $5 with the sale ending this Sunday evening (7 p.m. Eastern).
Keep reading for a look at some of the pieces and details on even more that's up for grabs -- cards, lots, memorabilia and more -- via the Lancaster, Pa.-based company.
The Rock signs for ... Connor's Cure charity auction
There's one autograph perhaps at the top of many collectors' want lists for any new WWE signers.
Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson hasn't signed a certified autograph on a wrestling card since 1998 -- not for Fleer, Topps or Panini America in all those years since, but for the short-lived Comic Images run with the WWE (then WWF) license. In fact, it's been more than a decade since his last signed card of any kind was put into a pack and they're not plentiful -- that means they're all pricey. He's got just four certified autos -- and only one is from a past wrestling set. That one? The 1998 Comic Images DuoCards WWF Superstarz set. The others? Inkworks sets for The Mummy Returns in 2001, The Scorpion King in 2002 and Doom in 2005. That's it -- nothing in the time years since, despite his global box-office dominance and asking prices for these cards.
But there is one -- just one -- new autograph up for grabs that was revealed by WWE just today.
Chew on this: Ty Cobb's dentures sell for $18K via SCP
Baseball Hall of Famer Ty Cobb was known for doing some talking with his cleats on the field -- maybe his bat, too -- but the headline-generating piece of sports memorabilia auctioned this weekend came from the years after his legendary career.
The Georgia Peach's dentures -- yes, his false teeth -- were sold by Laguna Niguel, Calif.-based SCP Auctions on Saturday and a dozen bidders ran up the price on these legendary chompers and an original brass holder.
The final cost? A cool $18,840 after an opening bid of just $5,000.
They have a little more history to them, too, with details also coming with their documents included in the auction.
LeBron James Triple Logoman arrives on Goldin auction block
One of the biggest sports cards ever made may soon ascend to its much-talked-about throne.
The 2020-21 Panini Flawless LeBron James Triple Logoman will hit the auction block this week via Goldin where it is being touted as a contender to break the all-time sales record for any sports card ever made -- that's the $6.6 million paid for a T206 Honus Wagner. The auction will begin on Wednesday via Goldin.
"The LeBron James Triple Logoman card is the undisputed holy grail of modern cards," said Goldin Executive Chairman and Founder Ken Goldin. "For months, collectors have clamored to claim this uniquely alluring masterpiece and for card collectors, there have been a small handful of cards that are considered the pièce de résistance of the hobby. We are truly proud to offer this item and now it can be yours."
Auction Buzz: Beetlejuice NFT a first for Wack Pack star
What: An auction for an NFT featuring Beetlejuice
Click here for the Goldin listingWhy it's Buzz-worthy: As part of its Elite Comic, Video Game and TCG Auction, Goldin is selling a 1/1 NFT of Beetlejuice – not the 1988 Tim Burton film, but the star of many internet memes and a member of the vaunted Wack Pack from The Howard Stern Show. This is just the most recent example of a celebrity selling and profiting from an NFT of their likeness.
There's something different about this auction, though. In addition to owning the NFT and receiving a video of Beetlejuice telling his own life story, the winning bidder gets a physical 1/1 Rookie Card that has been autographed by Beetlejuice. The card is stylized after T206 tobacco cards with some additional twists.
Auction Buzz: Some scorchers over at Goldin Auctions
It's looking like it will be another historic record-breaking month over at Goldin Auctions with action on the auction block already relatively intense.
How do we know that? Well, for starters, two iconic modern cards have already topped the million-dollar mark -- with more than nine days remaining -- and a huge third card from the past appears poised to get there with bids soon (it's at a mere $900,000). We'll get to two of those after looking at the hobby heavyweight you see above -- that's a sealed three-box case of 2003-04 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection NBA cards.
That one is the home to LeBron James' biggest Rookie Card and parallels and it's the home of the same for Dwyane Wade, Carmelo Anthony and Chris Bosh as well as monster cards from Michael Jordan, Kobe Bryant and other legends. "This singular release inspired a new and fervent, high-end market," the auction simply states -- and one really does have to wonder how many of these might still be in existence as every box has one patch auto, one rookie patch auto and more inside. It's a grail of its own unopened yet the highest of high-rollers just might get rewarded ... if they dared to open it. The current bidding? A cool $485,000 after 11 bids with nine days to go.
Keep reading for a deeper look at a few more items presently up for grabs.
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (Aug. 16)
The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.
What's Buzzing: WWE and Goldin Auctions are a tag team now, new Allen & Ginter pulls, NFL breaks, Pro Set ink and more in today's edition.
Auction Buzz: Modern marvels (and more) end soon at Pristine
It wasn't that long ago that auction houses were the home of mostly vintage cardboard but those days are gone to a degree -- now it's the big new legendary stuff (with big names of the past) that can heat things up quite a bit.
This weekend's sale over at Pristine Auction is a prime example of this, led by this treasure from Panini America ... and it's not alone with a number of impressive pieces heading into collector hands after bidding ends on Sunday.
ONE POWERFUL PULL
The Item: A 24-legend 2020 Panini National Treasures NFL Treasure Chest 1/1 booklet card
The Price: $6,825 after 42 bids (ends Sunday)
Why it’s Buzz-worthy: Where do you start with a card like this when the left panel alone includes patch and tag pieces from the likes of Tom Brady, Joe Montana, Brett Favre and Peyton Manning. The middle? I spy Patrick Mahomes, Joe Namath, Roger Staubach and Drew Brees. And the right side? Well, that one includes Aaron Rodgers and Steve Young for starters on this quarterback classic. There's no need to name them all or overstate the obvious with this loaded 24-legend booklet as it's the only one that exists with all of these patch pieces embedded into it. Pristine calls it "nothing short of epic" and the final price should get even more dramatic before it ends. In case you're wondering, the card notes that the Brady, Brees, Griese, Foles and McMahon swatches are game-used. It's an epic find with so much NFL success all in one spot.Keep reading for a look at a few more items presently up for grabs.
Goldin Auctions offers consignors shots at legendary cards
Goldin Auctions continues to set new sales records in each of its auctions. Your valuable items could be next.
If you're headed to the National Sports Collectors Convention, consign your high-end items with Goldin (minimum $10,000 value) for its popular Goldin Elite Auction and you will be entered into a drawing for a random group of box breaks including 1993 Upper Deck SP baseball, 2000 UD SP Authentic football and 1996-97 Topps Chrome basketball.
Goldin Auctions (booth Nos. 1100, 1102 and 648) also is offering fun and excitement with a chance to see rare trading cards and memorabilia at the show, set for July 28-Aug. 1 at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Ill. Collectors can also meet the founder, chat with trading card and memorabilia experts and be entered into giveaways.
Collectors can also find Goldin Tickets in boxes of the 2021 Blowout MegaMix with auction credit values as high as $1,000 randomly inserted into boxes. Visit Goldin Auctions at the show for a chance to take part in these rare opportunities.
Mookie Betts & Gregory Siff go for gold in charity auction
What's a painted and signed bottle of BODYARMOR Gold Berry Superdrink worth?
Well, when it's painted by Gregory Siff and signed by the subject of the artwork, Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Mookie Betts, it's not standard price -- and we'll find out that number over on eBay in a couple days.
What's it at now?
Chernin Group invests $40M in Goldin Auctions
Business is booming -- and the investors are noticing, too.
Goldin Auctions revealed Tuesday that it raised approximately $40 million in growth financing from The Chernin Group, an investment firm whose aim is "building and investing in leading, emerging consumer businesses in the media, commerce and technology industries."
According to the Runnemede, N.J., auction house's announcement, the funds will "help invest in technology, operations and audience development to further build upon the trust the company has established with buyers and sellers on its platform" as the auction industry has grown to more than $10 billion in annual transactions. The auction house was founded in 2012 and has grown quickly, grossing more than $100 million last year.
Founder Ken Goldin becomes executive chairman of the company while Ross Hoffman, who has held senior positions at Twitter, Google and Headspace, is the company's new CEO where he "will oversee the development of innovative new products and experiences that will redefine the collectibles industry and further cement the company’s reputation as the trusted leader in trading cards and memorabilia." Meanwhile, Goldin "will leverage his extensive knowledge, history and relationships in the collectibles industry to help lead the company’s continued growth."
Board Buzz: Must-read threads on Blowout Forums (Feb. 5)
The Blowout Cards Forums are where thousands of collectors converge daily to discuss, well, a little bit of everything. Here are a few threads about collecting and more that you should check out right now.
What's Buzzing: Basic questions and an ever-changing collecting game fuel today's threads.
Goldin Auctions joins Logan Paul to auction Pokémon rarities
Goldin Auctions is bringing in some star power to auction some Pokémon 1st Edition cards in an interactive way.
Logan Paul and auction house founder Ken Goldin will do a box break of the original series of U.S.-made cards on Feb. 27 live on YouTube where Paul, an entrepreneur and Pokémon collector, has 22.8 million subscribers. Packs are presently being auctioned -- with $10,000 opening bids on each one -- beginning today and running until Feb. 11.
Besides chasing Charizard, Blastoise, Chansey and Hitmonchan from the packs -- key cards pulled will be graded by PSA live during the stream -- each auction winner will receive one of 44 exclusive Paul non-fungible token digital art cards as you see above.
“I am thrilled to partner with Goldin for the biggest Pokémon unboxing ever,” Paul said in a prepared statement. “This is a newfound obsession of mine and I am so excited to share it with other enthusiasts around the world.”
Buzz Hobby Shop Spotlight: Morphy Auctions
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In these challenging times for hobby shops around the country and around the world, Blowout Cards is launching a new series, the Buzz Hobby Shop Spotlight -- a look at spots in the hobby that you might not know about ... in their own words.
From Buzz: We're looking at an auction house this time with some high-end antiquities and more that collectors might want to explore -- check it out at the link and see a gallery of six-figure sales below.
It wasn't only Jordan lighting it up in $33M Goldin weekend
As you may have seen Saturday night, it was a weekend of record-setting sales over at Goldin Auctions -- and it wasn't just Michael Jordan scorching the auction block, either.
The Runnemede, N.J.-based company had sales topping $33 million in the two-day event, which it claimed to be "the largest online sports collectibles auction of all time."
"I’ve been collecting cards and memorabilia for my whole life and I’ve never seen as much interest in the hobby. Long-time collectors have seen the value of their items soar and new collectors have rushed in because they view the hobby as not only fun but also a valuable investment," said company founder Ken Goldin in a prepared release. "It’s gratifying to see the hard work of our team on behalf of our consignors lead to these record setting results."
Auction Buzz: Some final-day scorchers happening at Goldin
Update: The two Michael Jordan Rookie Cards sold for $738,000 ... each.
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The action is picking up and the clock is winding down over at Goldin Auctions with some sales records set to be broken tonight and other auction-block scorchers ending tomorrow.
This one is a bit of déjà vu and a broken record about broken records, but this PSA 10 1986-87 Fleer Michael Jordan Rookie Card you see here is going to set a new mark for the card as it's presently at $300,000 after 15 bids and then will go even higher with the buyer's premium. It's a card that has surged to new highs seemingly weekly as it's an iconic chase item for deep-pocketed new and returning collectors. It set a record (that was then topped) via Goldin in just December when one sold for $215,000. The crazy part? There is a second PSA 10 copy of the same card also up for grabs and doing the same thing ... in this same auction with both ending tonight. (And there are a number of lesser-grade ones, too.)
These cards aren't even the biggest Jordan item up for grabs right now as the Runnemede, N.J.-based auction house has a number of other big-ticket memorabilia pieces and interesting items in its current auction. Don't believe Buzz? Hit that link and look at the first page of huge items ... Jordan leads off with a biggie. If that's not enough, sort 'em by price ... now pick up your jaw.
Keep reading for a deeper look at a few more items presently up for grabs.