What started as an autograph signing shrouded in mystery ended Thursday with a record-breaking $2.5 million result.
In the first sports-forward sale from JOOPITER, the Pharrell Williams-backed auction house sold a signed 1986 Michael Jordan Fleer rookie card (PSA 9/Auto 10) — the highest price ever paid for the '86 card.
The auction started with a minimum bid of $2 million and had a high estimate of $3 million. (Buyer's premium brought the final price to $2.5 million.)
A spokesperson from JOOPITER confirmed the sale only received a single bid.
Originally, Jordan signed nine copies of the 1986 Fleer rookie card in a secret session in Florida last year. The card at JOOPITER, which was initially listed for sale at Sotheby’s before it was removed at the request of the consignor, is one of less than 100 such copies graded by PSA/DNA and one of six featuring a 10 autograph grade.
The sale not only makes it the most expensive 1986 Fleer card ever sold, but also just the fourth Jordan card to ever eclipse $2 million and the third-most expensive overall.
A statement from the auction house boasted participation from 50 countries in the auction, though it is unclear how that participation is measured.
It’s the first of the cards from the so-called secret signing to sell at public auction.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible content.