Kobe Bryant PSA 10 Prizm Auto Sets New Record With Recent Sale
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While 2012 Prizm isn’t as iconic as 1986 Fleer, its importance keeps growing in the eyes of collectors. That importance was reinforced recently when a 2012 Prizm Autograph card of Kobe Bryant in a PSA 10 recorded a record sale of $27,600 on January 23rd. The previous high sale of a 2012 Kobe Bryant Prizm Autograph in a PSA 10 was just $13,800 (sold in April 2025).
The 2012 set marked the debut of Panini Prizm, which has since become the flagship basketball product of the modern era. As card #1 on the 100-card autograph checklist, the Kobe Bryant autograph represents the literal starting point of the coveted Prizm autograph.
Much like early Topps Chrome or Upper Deck SP Authentic autographs from previous decades, the first Prizm autographs carry symbolic weight that extends beyond pure scarcity.
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This Kobe Card is an Hard-Signed Auto
Equally important is the nature of the autograph itself. Unlike most later Prizm releases that rely heavily on sticker signatures, the 2012 set features true on-card, hard-signed autographs.
Further adding to the appeal of this card, Kobe Bryant and Kevin Durant were the only two veteran superstars in the entire checklist to sign directly on the card surface. That detail alone separates this card from the majority of modern Prizm autographs.
This Kobe Card has Extreme Scarcity
Scarcity further elevates its appeal. The sports card market in 2012 was a fraction of its current size, meaning overall production levels were far lower than what collectors see today. Only 58 of these Kobe 2012 Prizm Autographs have been graded by PSA, and only 14 of those have been given the coveted PSA 10 designation.
This Kobe Card has 2012 Prizm Nostalgia
The nostalgia surrounding 2012 Prizm has only intensified as the hobby enters a new licensing era. Panini Prizm helped define modern basketball collecting, but that chapter is at its end now that Panini no longer holds exclusive NBA rights. Topps has taken over as the primary producer of licensed NBA cards. As collectors look back on Prizm’s first year, 2012 Prizm increasingly represents the start of a closed era.
David is a collector based in Georgia and a lifelong fan of the New York Yankees, New York Giants, and New York Knicks. He is an avid sports card collector with a strong passion for vintage baseball cards and vintage on-card autographs. David enjoys obtaining autographs through the mail and loves connecting with other knowledgeable collectors to discuss the history and evolution of the hobby. He also previously wrote about the New York Giants for GMENHQ.com