The Art DeBart card from the 1993 SkyBox “Simpsons” set has long been known as among the earliest, if not the very first, sketch cards ever created.
The cards were issued in the form of 400 redemptions randomly inserted into packs, and collectors could send each redemption in for “Simpsons” creator Matt Groening’s hand-drawn unique sketch of Bart Simpson.
The cards, featuring Groening’s signature, have sold for as much as $18,600, with one most recently selling for around $10,000 in September at Goldin Auctions.
While certainly rare — less than 400 in existence — there is one version of the card that is far more scarce. In fact, it’s the only one of its kind.
An uncut version of the sketch card, gifted to SkyBox senior project manager Rebecca Cherry, who oversaw the project, will now sell for the first time since its creation.
According to Heritage, Groening sketched the card for Cherry “as a gesture of gratitude for her role in developing these specialty cards." The card features the inscription "Yo, Rebecca Cherry" across the top and is signed, "Your pal, Matt Groening."
Cherry has kept the card exactly as she received it, all these years, with the intention of one day framing it. However, she never got around to it, only rediscovering it recently as she packed up for an upcoming move to Italy, deciding to consign it for auction.
The sketch is oversized compared to the standard cards typically seen on the market and graded authentic by PSA/DNA. Current bidding for the card has surpassed $7,800, including buyer’s premium, with more than a week remaining at auction.
Time will tell if collectors value this unique and previously unseen example of the beloved sketch card with a premium due to its unique origins and rarity.
Will Stern is a reporter and editor for cllct.