In September, a one-of-a-kind showcase will auction off some of the rarest trading cards in American sports history. From a LeBron James autograph patch to a 1955 Roberto Clemente Rookie (PSA 9) to a very rare Tom Brady Rookie autograph, items will be on display that even the most passionate collectors can only dream of.
The auction, aptly titled “Holy Grails,” is being hosted by Fanatics Collect and Sotheby’s and will feature over 40 cards from the 20th and 21st centuries. Fanatics and Sotheby’s had previously stated that they would hold four auctions per year.
The auction will take place in a venue befitting the upper-class theme. The exhibition is to be held in Harlem Parish – a deconsecrated but still venerable church now used as an event venue – north of Central Park in New York City. It is Sotheby’s first attempt to redefine the auction venue and combine the promised museum and narrative character with the objects being auctioned.
“By choosing the iconic Harlem Parish as the venue and through bold visual scenography and object presentations, we are reimagining what the trading card industry means to collectors and enthusiasts,” said Brahm Wachter, head of modern collectibles at Sotheby’s, in a press release. “With this innovative approach, we are not only disrupting the industry, but also bringing cards into today’s modern world in a way that is truly unprecedented.”
An auction schedule is available on the Sotheby’s website. The public exhibition will take place on 23 and 24 September, the live auction on 24.
Here’s a look at some of the event’s most highly anticipated tickets to bid on:
Playoff contender Gem MT 9.5
This card is estimated to be worth $100,000 to $130,000. It is especially coveted because so few Brady cards were produced, as he was not considered a likely superstar in his rookie season. It is estimated that only four rookie cards featuring him in a Patriots uniform were signed, with this particular card being the highest graded by Beckett.
Metal Universe Precious Metal Gemstones Emerald No. 66 BGS 8
Bidding for this card is estimated at $200,000-$300,000. Only 10 copies of this particular parallel were in circulation, the rarest parallel of the Precious Metal Gem (90 Rubies were also printed).
Exquisite 1-of-1 car patch
The value of this card is estimated at over $350,000.
#79 Leaf
No estimate is given for this card, the oldest known card available in the exhibition. Not only is it historic, but as a PSA-8 it is in nearly flawless condition. In 2018, a card in slightly better condition sold for $336,000, but that was long before the explosion of collector interest during the pandemic and afterward.
According to PSA, this card sold for $38,400 in November 2017. Today, the card is valued at $428,000. There are only 51 other versions of this card in this or better quality.
Topps No. 164 PSA 9
Estimated at between $800,000 and $1 million, this card is one of only 11 cards graded PSA 9 by all major grading services.
