Bill Russell rookie card sets record at PWCC

Bill Russell’s iconic 1957 Topps rookie card has set a new record, selling for $660,000 in the May Vintage Premier Auction at PWCC Marketplace.

The sale set an all-time record for any trading card of the Celtics great and basketball Hall of Famer.

The Russell rookie was graded PSA 8.5 and awarded a PWCC-A Eye Appeal designation by PWCC.

1957 Topps Bill Russell rookie card that sold for a record $660,000 at PWCC Marketplace. PWCC Marketplace

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The card represents the third-highest public sale of a pre-1980 basketball card, according to public data provided by PWCC. It trails a 1948 Bowman George Mikan rookie card (PSA 9), which sold for $800,000 in March 2022, and a 1961 Fleer Wilt Chamberlain rookie card (PSA 9), which sold for $670,000 via a confirmed private sale in June 2022.

The back of the record-setting 1957 Topps Bill Russell rookie card. PWCC Marketplace

“It's worth looking beyond the sales price and taking a moment to appreciate the quality of this card from a historical perspective,” said Jesse Craig, vice president of sales at PWCC Marketplace. “There are no PSA 10 copies of this card and just three PSA 9 copies in existence. None of those 9s have ever surfaced at public auction. There are two copies of the card graded to a PSA 8.5 and this copy holds above average eye appeal according to our experts.

“When you take all of that into consideration it is possible that this is the best-looking copy of the card to exist in the world. What isn't debatable is that we're in the museum-quality range with this card. We're looking at a true artifact celebrating one of the all-time greats.”

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Russell’s rookie card is one of 11 vintage basketball cards to set new records at PWCC last week, including:

• Calvin Murphy 1970 Topps rookie (PSA 10) $90,000.

• Elvin Hayes 1972 Topps (PSA 10) $78,000.

• Earl Monroe 1970 Topps (PSA 10) for $40,800.

• David Thompson 1976 Topps rookie card (PSA 10) $37,200.

• Jack Marin 1969 Topps rookie card (PSA 10) $36,000.

• Artis Gilmore 1972 Topps rookie card (PSA 10) $28,200.

• Bob Weiss 1969 Topps rookie card (PSA 10) $24,600.

• Guy Rodgers 1969 Topps (PSA 10) $24,600.

• Mel Counts 1969 Topps rookie card (PSA 10) $24,600.

• Greg Smith 1969 Topps (PSA 10) $25,800.