Just released: Our latest Sports Collectibles Market Report!
This weekend delivered a flurry of record-breaking prices and headline sales at Goldin. The flow of money into top-tier assets continued while the broader market has struggled to show similar levels of appreciation. In this edition of Auction Action, we review the assets that are seeing impressive gains in 2022 while also checking in on the fractional markets.
Record-Breaking Sales
2014 Panini Prizm World Cup Gold Prizm #12 Lionel Messi (#02/10)
Final Price: $522,000
The most expensive Lionel Messi card is now also the most expensive modern soccer card ever sold. In February, investors on Rally accepted a buyout offer for a 1958 Alifabolaget Pele card for $1.3 million which set a record for soccer and was the first seven-figure sale for the sport. This sale marked the first modern sports cards to surpass the half-million-dollar price point as the market gears up for the World Cup.
Final Price: $312,000
When the dust settled and the final of the 34 bids were placed on this Josh Allen RPA, the hammer price closed at a new record for the young Buffalo Bills quarterback. While an Allen card has now finally crossed over the $300,000 threshold, prices still lag considerably to players such as Patrick Mahomes, Justin Herbert, and Joe Burrow.
1952 Bowman #101 Mickey Mantle – PSA MINT 9
Final Price: $540,000
On May 24, 2021, Goldin sold this same exact card for $369,000. The card is one of 13 PSA 9s in existence and there has not been a public sale for a PSA 10 in over a decade. The $369,000 sale established a new record for the 1952 Bowman series and was the most expensive Mantle from that set ever sold until this past weekend. The card returned to the auction block and sold for 46% more in less than one year as the final price struck $540,000 with 22 bids.
Final Price: $481,200
From an eye appeal perspective, booklet cards deliver some of the best art and design. This LeBron patch card sold by Goldin was not only a one-of-one, but it also had an incredible patch from Game 2 of the 2016 NBA Finals. The booklet garnered 42 bids and hit a final price of $481,200 which is the highest public price ever paid for any booklet card.
Final Price: $192,000
Heading into the 2022 NBA Playoffs, the Boston Celtics are a legitimate contender for a title run. In order to do that, they will need massive performances from three-time All Star Jayson Tatum. Goldin establish the new ceiling for any Tatum card when they sold this Gold RPA for $192,000.
Relevant Results
Asset: 1986-87 Fleer #57 Michael Jordan Rookie Card – PSA GEM MT 10
Goldin: $252,000
Collectable: $310,000
Rally: $72,000
Sales for the prized gem mint Jordan rookie have continued to sell within a defined range as prices have failed to break above $300,000 through the last two months. There have been eight sales in 2022 but only one has cleared $300,000 and this $252,000 result sits between $240,000 and $264,120 results.
Asset: 2002-03 Panini Sport Mega Craques #137 Cristiano Ronaldo Rookie Card - PSA GEM MT 10
Goldin: $218,400
Collectable: $297,863
Rally: $181,250
There are 38 PSA 10 graded examples in existence and this Goldin result was the first sale for a gem mint Mega Craques Ronaldo rookie in 2022. On October 4th, Goldin sold a different PSA 10 for $319,800 which is still the most expensive sale to date. While the $218,400 price paid at this auction is a steep decline from the October sale, it is the five sale ever above $200,000.
Asset: 1910 E98 "Set of 30" Ty Cobb, Red – PSA MINT 9
Goldin: $39,000
Rally: $32,000
Prices for PSA 9's have peaked above $50,000 but recently they have struggled to breakthrough $40,000. The Rally card IPO'd at the same price Goldin's example sold for but is down -17% since IPO.
Asset: 1958 Pele World Cup Debut Ticket Stub From Brazil vs USSR 6/15/58 Match (PSA VG 3)
Goldin: $39,600
Rally: $48,000
This week, Rally offered a debut stub with a slightly lower grade at PSA 1.5. The Stockholm-hosted tournament marked the international arrival of a 17-year-old star from Brazil. Pelé pumped in 6 goals and helped lead Brazil to a World Cup title.
Goldin: $67,200
(All fractional comps are graded BGS 9.5)
Collectable: $34,560
Otis: $16,167
Rally: $25,900
While each of the cards on fractional platforms are graded BGS 9.5, the gem mint Tiger Woods market has continued to maintain a steady level after prices had dropped dramatically at the beginning of Q421. In October, PSA 10s were selling for less than $40,000 but the first four sales of 2022 have all exceeded $60,000 as Tiger has returned to the course this year.
Asset: 1995-96 Michael Jordan Game Used & Signed Air Jordan Concord 11 Sneakers
Goldin: $37,200
Rally: $48,000
The pair on Rally is dual-signed while the sneakers sold by Goldin were single-signed and the final price falls within the range other single-signed examples have sold for over the last three years.
Asset: 1953 Topps #1 Jackie Robinson – PSA NM-MT 8
Goldin: $46,947
Rally: $48,000
While we are seeing prices breakout for top-tier cards and memorabilia, assets that are priced in the mid five-figures have continued to struggle. On January 28th, Heritage sold a different PSA 8 for $94,933 but that sale now looks like an outlier as no other PSA 8 has ever sold for more than $60,000.
Asset: 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle Rookie Card – PSA NM 7
Goldin: $336,000
Collectable: $299,000
Consistency is key and with PSA 7 graded '52 Topps Mantle cards, recent prices have been consistent. There have been two PSA 7's sold in 2022 and both sold for the same exact price. Meanwhile, Collectable's card opened for trading this week and its market cap is unchanged at the time of publication.
Goldin: $168,000
Rally: $181,500
With a print run of only 23 cards, sales for the #MJx-GJ variation are limited. Prices have recently pulled-back though and while Rally's card and the Goldin price are in line with each other, prices for BGS 9 examples peaked above $300,000 last year.
Asset: 2003-04 Topps Chrome Refractor #111 LeBron James Rookie Card - PSA GEM MT 10
Goldin: $67,200
Otis: $69,825
Rally (BGS 10): $86,250
Prices for these PSA 10 LeBron Chrome Refractors have continued to plummet. The Goldin sale marks the lowest auction price for this card since December 2020 and the last four prices paid via auction have all progressively decreased.
Asset: 1986-87 Fleer Basketball Unopened Wax Box
Goldin: $204,000
Collectable: $187,866
Rally: $181,500
Collectable and Rally's sealed 1986 Fleer Wax both carry market caps below the last two public sale prices. Goldin has been a one of the better auction houses to sell your BBCE authenticated boxes through as four of the five highest sale prices since October have come via Goldin.
Goldin: $76,800
Rally: $41,062
Rally's Ohtani has dropped -43.75% on their secondary market but now sits well below the price of Goldin's sale. Goldin also sold a PSA 9/Auto 9 graded example of the same /25 card for $73,200 as the two cards combined to attract 78 total bids.
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