Card Identification Forum

Hi everyone!

Where can I go to check the price of this card? They made 200 of these. I’ve seen online 101/200, 172/200, and so on. But mine is actually 19/25. So it’s even more rare. This is one of lebron rare rookie card without a signature. Please advise. Thanks

Technically, it's not a rookie card (RC) since it's not a base card.  It's the Gold parallel.  The base card is SN200.

So what does that mean it doesn’t have any value? Can you please explain? Thanks 

Nope, that card has no value.  If you'd like, I'd be happy to discard it for you into my collection. *wink wink*.  

In case you couldn't tell, I am being sarcastic there haha.  That card probably has a pretty high value.  I can't even find one for sale on Ebay.  

Basically what C2Cigars is saying, is "technically" that isn't a rookie card.  There is a "rule" in the hobby, that only a base card from the set can be a true "Rookie Card".  Inserts and Parallels (which this card is a parallel) are not classified as Rookie Cards.  As such, you will find on our website here that this card does not have a "RC" designation.  

What a parallel is, is a special card that looks just like the normal card, other than some design changes.  For instance the card you have is a Gold Parallel of his standard base card in the set.  Keep in mind though, that a parallel card is usually harder to find than the standard base card.  Especially this one, as it is serial numbered out of the 25 Gold Parallels made.  This is a VERY cool card.  

Long story short, this isn't technically a "rookie card", it's a parallel of his rookie card.  But this card is probably worth considerably more than the actual Rookie Card as it is much harder to find.

I found one sale of his base RC on ebay. A graded 10 sold for $4,650.  Since his base RC card had only 200 printed and your parallel had only 25 printed, I'd say it has more value to most collectors.  Might be worth getting it graded.

@sahal@cigar thanks for the info. Where do you recommend me getting it graded? Beckett? Thanks again ...

I have never had a card graded before, so I don't have any personal experience with that.  I have always heard though that PSA and Beckett are good bets.  I think I heard once that PSA is good for vintage cards, and Beckett is good for modern cards.  I could be wrong though, this is just from my memory.  Maybe someone else here will have a better opinion for you on a good grading company.  

You called one of the card shop, they said Beckett says it’s $1000. I’m disappointed 

Remember, Beckett is a price "guide" and not a be-all, end-all. A card is only worth as much as someone is willing to pay for it. The one that sold for $4,000 obviously had more value to someone. Granted, that was a graded 10, but still. Just because Beckett says something doesn't mean it is true.

Not to mention if someone called a card shop and inquired about the price of that card, the shop may try to pull a fast one and tell you it's worth much less than it really is, hoping to buy it and flip it. I tend to see the good in human beings, but I suppose that's a possibility.

I too would recommend getting the card graded if you're looking to sell it. Although I've never submitted a card for grading, Beckett and PSA are probably the best two. I don't know if SGC still does grading or not, but I haven't heard of anyone using them in years (buying SGC graded cards, yes. Submitting cards to SGC to grade, no). 

@jasonoger thanks

the shop told me to get graded also. They said they will send it to Beckett, for a fee of $80. I told them it’s a rare card that there are only 25 made. He said that it’s not true, there are more than 25 made out there. Some for retailers, wholesalers, collectors, etc. does that make any sense? I thought if it said 19/25, is that they only make 25 of these...

thanks again everyone for your time helping me out