The Real Cost of a Fake Jordan Card

Above The Mantel 029

Author

Jack Caldwell
June 27, 2024

Collectors, it’s time to shave those playoff beards.

This week saw the end of a thrilling Stanley Cup Final, as the Florida Panthers defeated the Edmonton Oilers in a decisive Game 7. The result complicates the legacy of one of the league’s best players – and perhaps the value of his collectibles.

Edmonton star Connor McDavid, who went pointless in Games 6 and 7, joined the dubious ranks of players to win the Conn Smythe Trophy (playoff MVP) without securing a championship.

Does McDavid’s big name still make his 2024 Cup collectibles a worthy investment? Let us know what you’re thinking on Mantel.

Notice any differences? (H/t: @hypemon on Mantel)

The Mantel community was buzzing this week about a counterfeit Michael Jordan card that sold on eBay for $23,123.23 (of all numbers…). eBay refunded both the buyer and seller the card’s full price. This was a normal base card, colored over with a red marker to give it a Precious Metal Gem aesthetic. Beckett authenticated it and graded it as altered. Whoops!

Is There a 2024 NBA Draft Prospect Worth Investing In?

The Mantel community pondered that question ahead of the first night of the NBA’s two-round draft. Zaccharie Risacher of France went first overall on Wednesday, while Bronny James remains on the board, hoping to hear his name called on Thursday. The consensus is that this year’s draft class is underwhelming, but there are always surprises.

An early print of the Declaration of Independence sold on Wednesday for $3.36M, landing in the middle of the pre-sale estimate range of $2M-$5M. This copy is almost exactly 248 years old – dated July 11, 1776. It’s the first of approximately 1,000 early printed copies and one of only 26 that remain in existence, with most others in public institutions. On his episode of Mantel Quality Stories, “Pawn Stars” star Rick Harrison mentioned that Thomas Jefferson’s copy of the document is missing and would fetch around $50M in a public auction.

A letter Albert Einstein wrote to President Roosevelt in 1939, warning of Germany’s nuclear capabilities, is headed to the open market, and estimates value it at $4M-$6M. The late Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen last owned the letter, purchasing it for $2.1M in 2002. The piece highlights an upcoming Christie’s sale of Allen’s personal collection, which also includes a spacesuit and an early computer.

In 2005, a pair of the red slippers actress Judy Garland wore in “The Wizard of Oz” were stolen from her namesake children’s museum in her hometown of Grand Rapids, Minnesota. Now they’re headed to the open market. The slippers were originally on loan to the museum by collector Michael Shaw, and upon recovery by the FBI in 2018, Shaw handed the slippers over to Heritage Auctions. The museum is preparing a sizable bid to bring the slippers back to Garland’s hometown – even gaining support from Minnesota Governor Tim Walz.

Between his business knowledge and firsthand sports experiences, Scott Keeney (AKA DJ Skee) wove together incredible stories about his collection, which includes a hometown Super Bowl ticket with a unique twist. DJ Skee’s newest collectibles venture, The Realest, is one to keep an eye on.

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