The Beckett Blog

By TRACY HACKLER | BECKETT MEDIA PUBLISHER

Almost a year after it first surfaced last July at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago, the only BGS 10 Joe Montana Rookie Card in existence recently sold at auction for the staggering sum of $65,880, according to Modern Marvels Auctions president Dave Amerman.

The Pristine-conditioned 1981 Topps #216 headlined Modern Marvels’ premiere online auction that began in January and officially ended April 25. Given the sheer largess of the winning bid, however, the transaction for the key card wasn’t finalized until just recently.

According to Beckett Media Senior Market Analyst Dan Hitt, the figure is easily the most ever paid for a professionally graded, modern-era football card. In addition, it’s the third highest sale of a single football card ever recorded by Beckett Media, surpassed only by two different sales of an SGC 96 Mint copy of Bronko Nagurski’s 1935 National Chicle card, for $240,000 and $80,000, respectively.

“When the card reached $30,000 the morning of the auction close date, we thought that would be the sale price,” said Amerman, who launched Modern Marvels earlier this year as a way to bring attention to modern high-end trading cards. “Later that afternoon, a bid for $32,000 was submitted and this continued until the card reached its final sale price. We were very pleased with the sale.”

So, too, was Georgia native Sean Storms, the card’s seller who acquired the gem from a friend last December for $25,000.

“I’ve been collecting since I was 9 years old and I’m 34 now,” Storms notes. “This was the greatest transaction I’ve had. It was a tremendous experience. I’m happy for the collector who got it and I feel good that it went for what it did. But as a collector, I feel that the card is worth even more. It’s a beautiful card.”

It’s worth noting that Storms – who by day is the President of Dixieland Waste Services and also works in the solar energy field – is in the process of launching his Storms of American Trading Company on eBay, which will start with more than $1 million in inventory, primarily high-end, high-grade modern sports cards in BGS 10, BGS 9.5 and PSA 10 condition.

Beckett Media first broke the story of the history-making Montana card’s existence last summer and Amerman, as well as the card’s original BGS submitter, have confirmed that it has changed hands privately on at least a few occasions in the 11 months since.

“Clearly, the condition of the card and the BGS 10 grade associated ultimately attributed to the final sale price,” Amerman admits. “The facts are that this is the only one of this grade and perhaps the finest known example available in the world.”

—

For more on Beckett Grading Services, click here.

AND WHILE YOU’RE HERE, CHECK OUT THESE STORIES …

Phenom’s debut: 16-year-old’s forthcoming SI cover an instant collectible

Preview Gallery: 2009 Donruss Americana celebrity cards arrive today

More for SI fans: Collecting Sports Illustrated Swimsuit Issue model autographs isn’t tough on cards