Page 16 - JOA-august-23

W hile sports memorabilia buying at all value levels ran rampant during COVID, the first half of 2023 is showing no signs of a market
slowing down. Here are just a few of the big-ticket items that have sold in the first half of this year (prices include buyer’s premium):

Morphy Auctions
An intact 1952 Topps baseball wax-pack
“brick” sold for a staggering $873,300 at
Morphy Auctions’ Feb. 1-3, 2023, auction.
The brick contains eight factory-sealed Sotheby’s
5-cent wax packs. In turn, each of the packs
contains five baseball cards, which some An iconic Kobe Bryant jersey sold for a
experts believe could be from Topps’ first record $5.8 million at Sotheby’s in
series. The sealed brick’s ownership could be February. This Adidas jersey was worn by
traced most recently to a 1991 transaction in the late basketball star during 25 games of
Seattle. It was sold to a private collector who his 2007-2008 season and is the only gold
wishes to remain anonymous. jersey Kobe wore in the 2008 NBA
Playoffs leading to the 2008 NBA Finals – Goldin
including when the Lakers were crowned A signed and inscribed LeBron James jersey
Western Conference Champions. In this from the 2014 NBA Finals matchup with the San
jersey, Kobe advanced to the 2008 NBA Antonio Spurs sold for $192,000 at Goldin this
Finals for the first time since Shaquille past April. The white Adidas size 2XL jersey hails
O’Neal was traded from the Lakers. This from James’ final Finals with the Heat (capstone of
was an important moment in Kobe’s an NBA record 4th straight Finals appearance for
career, in his conquest to win his first title the franchise), and more specifically from Game 4
without O’Neal. According to Sotheby’s, it when James led with 28 points. It includes James’
is now the most expensive Kobe Bryant black marker inscription, “LeBron James / vs.
item ever sold at auction. Spurs 6/12/14 / Finals GM 4.”
Sotheby’s
A pair of Air Jordans worn by Michael
Jordan became the world’s most expensive Mile High Card Co.
sneakers when they sold for $2.2 million at a An exceptional Babe Ruth/Lou Gehrig
Sotheby’s online auction this past April. The signed ONL Heydler Baseball (PSA/DNA
sneakers, officially dubbed the 1998 NBA 8 NM/MT, JSA), signed in 1925, sold for
Finals Game 2 Air Jordan 13s, were worn by $59,887.47 at Mile High Card Co.’s
the basketball star during his last year with Spring Auction in April. Though they were
the Chicago Bulls. The black-and-red shoes the most formidable tandem in baseball for
are the only complete pair of sneakers worn 12 years, both players passed away early in
by Jordan in an NBA Finals game to be life, Gehrig in 1941 and Ruth in 1948,
authenticated, Sotheby’s says. leaving a short supply of quality examples
for the collecting public.
14 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles