Michael Jordan's 1989 Sports Illustrated for Kids card is already extremely rare, with less than 200 graded by PSA and BGS combined.
But the copy set to sell later this month at Hunt Auctions is even rarer, as it carries an on-card autograph from Jordan.
Sports Illustrated for Kids cards have long been a favorite among collectors looking for athletes who might not appear in a flagship set because of their sport — with some of the most valuable cards of Tiger Woods, Mia Hamm and Serena Williams all coming from S.I. for Kids.
Printed in a single sheet within the magazine, collectors had to carefully tear out the individual card, while keeping its perforations intact, in order to submit it for grading.
The card at Hunt is not authenticated by PSA, which only guaranteed the autograph.
No other examples of this early Jordan card with autographs appear to have sold recently, and none appear in PSA’s population report.
The record sale for the card is $5,750 for a BGS 9.5 example.
Hunt’s presale estimate on the lot is $3,000-$5,000 and bidding has already surpassed $1,500.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct, the premier company for collectible culture.