Fanatics and high-end auction house Sotheby's are joining forces next month for the inaugural "Holy Grails" trading card auction.
The auction will be a two-day event, from Sept. 23 to 24, with an exhibition open to the public showcasing 40 of the hobby's most important cards. A live auction will take place on Sept. 24.
Fanatics and Sotheby’s first announced the ultra high-end event in June, alongside the rebranding of PWCC Marketplace to Fanatics Collect.
The exhibition and auction will be held at the Harlem Parish on West 118th Street in New York. According to Chris Lamontagne, president of Fanatics Collect and Fanatics Live, some athletes whose cards are being auctioned off will be in attendance.
Details on five additional cards headed to auction were also announced — prior to Wednesday, a 1948 Leaf Jackie Robinson PSA 8 had been the only card confirmed to be included.
Among the cards available will be a 2005-06 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Dual Logoman Autographs Michael Jordan and Julius Erving 1/1 BGS 8.5/10, with a pre-sale estimate of $1 million or more.
Another 1/1, a 2005-06 Upper Deck Exquisite Collection Autograph Patch LeBron James BGS 8.5/10, will also head to auction, with a pre-sale estimate of $350,000 or more.
Just the second vintage card announced so far, a 1955 Topps Roberto Clemente PSA 9 rookie card has a pre-sale estimate between $800,000 and $1 million. The high mark for the card at this grade is $1,107,000, which it achieved at Goldin in 2021. This exact example sold last year for $960,000 at Robert Edward Auction.
Considered arguably the most important football card of all time, a 2000 Playoff Contenders Tom Brady Rookie Ticket Autograph BGS 9.5/10 has a pre-sale estimate of between $100,000 and $130,000. The last BGS 9.5/10 example to sell publicly fetched $208,800 at Goldin in 2022.
Rounding out the five cards announced Wednesday is a 1997-98 Metal Universe Tim Duncan Precious Metal Gems Emerald /10 BGS 8. Considered among his best cards ever, another BGS 8 example holds the record for the most expensive Duncan card with a $218,400 sale at Goldin in 2021.
The “Holy Grails” auction is the result of a push by Fanatics to reach the ultra high-end market, while Sotheby’s continues its recent surge into sports memorabilia. To date, Sotheby’s has produced top-selling items such as a Michael Jordan game-worn NBA Finals jersey that sold for $10.1 million and a game-worn Kobe Bryant jersey for $5.8 million through high-level storytelling.
According to Sotheby’s head of modern collectibles Brahm Wachter, the “Holy Grails” auction, which finally has a name and location, appears to be another attempt at impressive storytelling.
“From the outset, our aim was to create an immersive auction experience unlike anything ever seen in the trading card industry,” Wachter said in a statement. “By choosing the iconic Harlem Parish as our venue and through bold, visual scenography and property displays, we are reimagining what the trading card industry means for collectors and enthusiasts.
"With this innovative approach, we’re not only shaking up the industry but also bringing cards into today’s modern world in a way that’s truly unprecedented.”
Matt Liberman is a reporter and video producer for cllct.