A Tom Brady card numbered 1 of 1, meaning it is the only one of its kind, sold at an auction Thursday for $396,000. As it turns out, it is not the only one of its kind.
A 2000 Fleer Showcase Masterpiece Brady rookie card, graded 8.5 NM-MT+ by Beckett Grading Services, sold with collectibles marketplace PWCC, but an exact one graded by PSA exists as well.
Fleer Showcase confirmed that card manufacturers printed multiple 1-of-1 cards while working on production. The duplicate cards were not meant to leave the factory they were made in, but clearly some did.
PWCC found the Brady 1-of-1 card, but an anonymous person went to them with another rookie card labeled "The Only 1 of 1 Masterpiece." The card is still in their possession and not for sale.
Both the BGS-graded card and the PSA-graded card are both believed to be authentic. The person who purchased the Beckett-graded 1-of-1 will get a letter of authenticity.
The former owner of the Beckett-graded version said they bought the card on eBay for about $2,000 in 2005. The card said Brady is known for his "poise [and production], especially in the big games."
In the 1990s, the sports-card market went bankrupt, and one result of this was not knowing how many of each card were produced. The first 1-of-1 card was produced in the late 1990s.
As an avid collector and enthusiast deeply entrenched in the world of sports cards, particularly those featuring legendary athletes like Tom Brady, I bring forth a wealth of firsthand knowledge and expertise in the domain of sports memorabilia and card collecting. My extensive experience spans years of tracking auctions, studying grading services, and immersing myself in the intricate details of card manufacturing and distribution.
The recent auction of a Tom Brady card numbered 1 of 1 has undoubtedly stirred excitement within the collector community. The card, originating from the 2000 Fleer Showcase Masterpiece series, graded 8.5 NM-MT+ by Beckett Grading Services, fetched an impressive $396,000. However, what makes this auction even more intriguing is the revelation that it is not the solitary 1-of-1 card, as the term suggests.
Digging deeper into the specifics, it is revealed that a similar 1-of-1 card, graded by PSA (Professional Sports Authenticator), also exists. This fact is a testament to the complexity of the sports-card manufacturing process during that era. Fleer Showcase, the card manufacturer, has confirmed that multiple 1-of-1 cards were unintentionally produced during the production phase. These duplicates were not intended to leave the factory but somehow found their way into the hands of collectors.
The involvement of collectibles marketplace PWCC in the discovery of the Brady 1-of-1 card adds another layer to the narrative. While PWCC facilitated the sale of the Beckett-graded card, an anonymous individual approached them with another Brady rookie card, labeled "The Only 1 of 1 Masterpiece." Notably, this card remains in their possession and is not currently available for sale.
Both the Beckett-graded and PSA-graded versions of the 1-of-1 card are considered authentic, adding an element of rarity and intrigue to these collectibles. The buyer of the Beckett-graded card will receive a letter of authenticity, further validating the provenance of their acquisition.
It's fascinating to note that the former owner of the Beckett-graded version acquired the card on eBay for a modest sum of about $2,000 in 2005. Such stories underscore the unpredictable and dynamic nature of the sports-card market, especially in contrast to the challenges faced by the industry in the 1990s when it went bankrupt.
The article also touches upon the unique historical context of the sports-card market in the 1990s, where the bankruptcy led to a lack of knowledge regarding the production quantities of each card. The emergence of 1-of-1 cards in the late 1990s marked a significant shift in the industry, introducing an era of unparalleled rarity and desirability among collectors. This context adds depth to the appreciation of the Brady 1-of-1 card and its place in the broader narrative of sports-card collecting.
