My White Whale: 1/1 Dwight Howard Autographed Jersey Printing Plate

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In the world of sports cards, a white whale is a card that you have decided to be a must have for your collection. It might not be valuable to others but for you, your collection is incomplete without it.

However, acquiring it is very difficult because it seldom comes up and chasing that card might sometimes take you years.

Since I started collecting Dwight Howard in 2006, I've been wanting to add a card serial numbered 1/1 to my collection. Yes, a card that is the only one of its kind in the world. Although others might say that a 1/1 is not so rare nowadays, acquiring one might be difficult especially if the player featured in the card is Dwight Howard. Howard belongs to the upper-tier of NBA players and there are actually many collectors wanting his picture on a cardboard.

After five years, finally got my white whale. It's not just a simple 1/1 base card. It's a 1/1 with pieces of Dwight Howard's game-used jersey and his autograph. It might be on an ugly sticker but I'll still take it anytime.

This was included in last week's mail.

Dwight Howard 07-08 Topps Triple Threads Auto Jersey Printing Plate 1/1

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The card is a printing plate used to print other cards like the one shown below it which is serial numbered 1/9 and was included in my March 21-25, 2011 mail week.

NEXT TARGET: That elusive Shaquille O'Neal white whale - an autographed 1/1 or a 90's  low serial numbered parallel card.

Mail Week March 28 - April 1: 1 of 1 Inserts and Autos, Carter Exquisite and Jordans

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I have been literally flooded with mails this month.

While I really like my March 21-25 mail week because of the rare Shaq 90's inserts, nice Dwight Howard autos and Kobe 2nd year inserts, my mails for the past week is not too shabby either because, finally, my Dwight Howard white whale has arrived.

Check out my mail week for March 28 - April 1.

The centerpiece is of course the card at the center, a 07-08 Topps Triple Threads Printing Plate Jersey Auto White Whale 1/1.

Next one I got is this cool rookie card of Dwight Howard that contains a beautiful piece of patch.

However, that same patch is the reason why this only got a BGS 6 grade (Excellent-Mint). You see, the thickness of the patch made creases at card's surface as shown in red circles below.

Nevertheless, it still is a beautiful card. In fact, I plan to acquire as many rookie cards of this kind as I can from now on. The card is serial numbered out of 350 so, there are still 349 out there.

On to the Michael Jordans.

I can't really afford an original rookie card so I just have to settle with the Michael Jordan 86-87 Fleer Rookie Card Reprint. Or fake if you want to be more technical.

Also to be added to my Jordan side PC are these hologram cards from 96-97 Collector's Choice. This is an oddball set I must say as they are released outside the US. Becket value for this Jordan's Journals set is $50.

I also happened to chance on this beautiful set from the same seller, southsidestore1 of eBay so I also bought it to take advantage of the combined shipping. This is a 95-96 Fleer Flair Perimeter Power set featuring the top 15 outside shooters during the early 90's including the likes of Reggie Miller, Scottie Pippen, Gary Payton, Anfernee Hardaway and Clyde Drexler.

For my Shaq PC is this 99-00 Black Diamond FINAL CUT parallel card serial numbered 001/100. Yes, the first card in the series so this is somewhat special. It also happens to be my first Shaq card  to have a 001/** serial number.

Just a side note, my Shaq card to feature the last number in a series is this: 1995 Classic Five Sport Hot Box Autographs 655/655!

 Speaking of special serial numbered cards, I was able to buy this lot at hobbykings composed of:

2003-04 UD Manu Ginobili Green Reflections #20/100 - Ginobili's jersey number
2009-10 Absolute Steve Nash Spectrum #1/25 - first card in the series
2009-10 Absolute A.J. Price Spectrum #25/25 - last card in the series
2009-10 Absolute Kevin Love FF #42/100 - Love's jersey number
2007-08 Stadium Club Jason Kidd jsy #280/499
2003-04 UD Reflections Jason Kidd Gold #47/50
2005-06 Finest Refractor Chris Bosh 323/349

What's even more special with the Ginobili and Love cards is that they are serial numbered to both player's respective jersey numbers.

Cards like this typically carry some premiums as they are considered as 1/1s by hardcore player collectors.

Last but not the least with this mail week is the redeemed card for a 09-10 Exquisite Collection Vince Carter Buyback auto.

I redeemed it last July 22, 2010 along with 2 Dwight Howards and 1 Chris Paul. So after 8 months, Carter finally signed but not Howard and Paul. :-(

So there you go. I hope you enjoyed my mails as much as I do.

Blake Griffin 2009-10 National Treasures Signature Patches Logoman 1/1

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Blake Griffin has been one of the hottest rookies to enter the NBA in recent years.

This man backed up all the hype surrounding him though as he averages 22.3 points, 12.1 rebounds and 3.6 assists per game while providing highlight reels every time he plays.

It's no wonder then that in the sports card hobby, his trading cards are one of the hottest.

And this card right here is the hottest of them all.

It's the Blake Griffin 2009-10 National Treasures Signature Patches Logoman which is numbered to 1 of 1. Yes, the only one of its kind.

It was sold on eBay last March 12 by seller 1of1hobby for a princely price of US $18,800!

It was actually offered with a Buy It Now price of US $32,032.32 last February but after passing up 33 offers, the seller decided to pull it out and offered it in auction.

Check out the seller's description of the card.

Blake Griffin 2009-10 National Treasures Signature Patches Logoman 1/1

With that US $18,800, you can just buy a 2011 Kia Optima which Griffin jumped over on the way to winning the 2011 Sprite Slam Dunk Contest.

But then again, if I am so filthy rich, I will choose that card anytime over a car.

Trading Cards With Shaq Cameo Appearance

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This one's just for fun.

I have almost one thousand different Shaquille O'Neal trading cards. I know it's impossible to collect all of his cards due to multiple 1/1s but whenever I have the chance to get hold of a new Shaq, I grab it immediately.

Such is my adoration for one of the greatest centers of all time that I also collected cards that feature him not as the main player but along with other players or as appearing in the background of other player's cards.

If you're having difficulty understanding what I'm trying to say, just check the pictures below.

I encircled Shaq's face in case you miss him.

* with the great Michael Jordan - yes, getting beaten again in the pick and roll

* with other players

 

* this one is a checklist

* with his Dream Team II team mates

* with his Dream Team III team mates

* with other Topps exclusives (2001)

Please hit me up if you got cards like these. :-)

Josh Smith 05-06 Finest Rainbow Set

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I love shiny cards.

I also love sets.

So when a collector from the NBA Cards Philippines forum decided to sell his Josh Smith set of refractors, x-fractors and a 1 of 1 superfractor from the 05-06 Finest product, I grabbed the opportunity to own them.

Here they are:

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The GOLD SUPERFRACTOR serial numbered 1/1

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It's not actually complete as I think it's still lacking around 10 cards for the whole rainbow set  to be completed. Yes, it's massive. 

But still, I love its look.

I would love to add more to it. Please leave me a comment if you can add to the set.