- A 1961-62 Fleer Wilt Chamberlain SGC 10, which first surfaced last month after sitting in a closet for more than 60 years, has sold privately for $1.7 million in a deal brokered by Goldin Auctions.
The only SGC 10 in existence, the Chamberlain rookie was submitted for grading after the owner of the card visited a local card shop for advice on next steps.
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The Chamberlain rookie, along with a number of other vintage cards, had been stored in the closet of a grocery store once operated by the card owner’s family.
????BREAKING NEWS????
— Goldin (@GoldinCo) September 4, 2024
We have privately sold a @sgcgrading 10 Wilt Chamberlain 1961-62 Fleer Rookie Card for $1.7 Million, making it the most expensive Wilt Chamberlain card of ALL-TIME! ????????
Email sell@goldin.co or DM our social accounts if you have the next great collectible that… pic.twitter.com/dHGpRw20Qg
Discovered several years ago, the cards were finally taken to DK’s Sports Cards in Crosby, Minnesota, last month before eventually landing at SGC for grading.
To date, the Chamberlain is the only card from 1961 Fleer Basketball to receive an SGC 10, while only three examples have earned PSA 10s — though those copies were all graded decades ago.
“Just pound-for-pound, I feel very comfortable saying this is the best Wilt rookie on the planet,” SGC President Peter Steinberg told cllct in August. “There’s no room for improvement. If you asked me what could make it even better, I don’t have that answer.”
Prior to this $1.7 million sale, the highest price paid for the card was $670,000 in a private sale for a PSA 9 example in 2022. The highest public sale, according to Card Ladder, was $198,000 for a PSA 9 at Heritage in May.
“It’s an incredible card and the images speak for themselves,” Goldin founder and CEO Ken Goldin told cllct. “I believe this shows the tremendous strength in the vintage card market.”
In addition to being the highest price ever paid for a Chamberlain card, the sale is the highest ever for a vintage basketball card of any kind.
The new owner of the card, who asked to remain anonymous, praised the quality of the card as well as the original owner and card shop in Minnesota.
"When I tell you this card is perfect, this card is like nothing that I have ever seen," the new owner told cllct.
"A very touching story, they're really great guys. I'm glad I've gotten to know them, and I'm so excited to be the next owner."
Ben Burrows is a reporter and editor for cllct.