One of Five: 1997 Jordan SP Authentic Auto Surfaces at Lelands, Bids Approach $100K Overnight
A grandson consigned a 1997 Michael Jordan SP Authentic Sign of the Times auto — held by the original owner for two decades — and the Lelands auction market responded immediately.
What Happened
A 1997 Michael Jordan SP Authentic Sign of the Times autographed card, graded PSA NM 7 with a PSA 10 autograph grade, has surfaced at Lelands after spending roughly 20 years in a family collection. The card was consigned by the son of the original owner. It is one of only five copies authenticated by PSA, and it is the first example to appear at public auction since 2021. Within 24 hours of the lot going live, bidding approached $100,000.
Why Collectors Should Care
Five PSA-authenticated copies of this card exist. That's it. When one of them hasn't traded publicly in five years and then hits a major auction house, it's a genuine market event — not just a headline. The near-$100K overnight bid pace signals that serious Jordan vintage collectors were waiting for exactly this moment. For anyone holding Jordan SP Authentic material from the late '90s, this sale will set a fresh reference point for the entire subset. It also puts a spotlight on the broader Sign of the Times checklist from that era, where other low-pop Jordan autos could see renewed collector attention off the back of this result. The provenance angle — a family holding the card for two decades before a grandson brings it to market — is the kind of origin story that adds auction heat, and Lelands clearly positioned it that way.
Questions Collectors Are Asking
What exactly is the 1997 SP Authentic Sign of the Times set?
Sign of the Times was an autograph insert subset within the 1997 SP Authentic basketball release, featuring on-card signatures from NBA stars. The Jordan is among the most sought-after cards in the checklist.
Why does the PSA 10 autograph grade matter if the card itself is only a 7?
On vintage autograph cards, the auto grade carries significant weight with collectors. A PSA 10 auto on a card that otherwise grades NM 7 tells buyers the signature is pristine — which directly supports strong auction prices even when the card surface shows age.
How rare is a PSA pop of five for a Jordan card?
Extremely rare by any standard. Most desirable Jordan cards from the '90s have pops in the dozens or hundreds. Five total authenticated copies puts this in a different category entirely and is a primary driver of the auction interest.
Does this result affect the value of other Jordan SP Authentic cards?
It sets a fresh public reference point for Jordan SP Authentic auto material from the late '90s and will likely draw renewed collector attention to the broader Sign of the Times checklist. Other low-pop Jordan autos from the same era could see increased demand.
Sources
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