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

autograph

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

FRONT

BACK

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.

Lebron James 07-08 Ultimate Collection Signatures Autograph

autograph

I don't really collect Lebron James but when something is available for sale that is usually cheaper than what they usually fetch for, I will immediately scoop it up.

After all, you can easily move his cards and they are good trade baits because he is very popular with collectors.

Two months after I got my first ever Lebron James autographed card, a 06-07 Exquisite Collection Enshrinements, I was able to get hold of another Lebron auto.

It's 07-08 Ultimate Collection Signatures autographed card. What I like about this one is that the auto is signed directly on-card and it is pretty limited with only 20 sets produced. Mine is serial numbered 09/20.

Kobe Bryant 09-10 Crown Royale Majestic Signatures Autograph

autograph

I got my third Kobe Bryant auto already and I'm now halfway to my mini-quest.

My first auto was a 2004-05 UD All-Star Lineup Signature Class Kobe Bryant auto I got last June. The second one was a 2000-01 SPx Winning Materials Jersey/Warmup Autograph I got last December.

Here's my third Kobe Bryant autographed card:

FRONT

BACK

2009-10 Crown Royale Majestic Signatures Autograph #d 116/199

After Panini signed an exclusive deal with the NBA to monopolize the NBA trading cards industry, they also signed former Upper Deck poster boy, Kobe Bryant.

With this, Kobe also changed his new autograph. This card features that. Personally, I don't like the signature at all. It's like being scrawled by a kid.

This card also shows Kobe wearing number 24 jersey. That happens to be #2 on my Kobe Bryant autographed cards want list, to obtain one showing him in his #24 jersey.

I also like this card for the fact that the Majestic set where it came from is the only autograph set from 09-10 Crown Royale. This one is also limited to only 199 sets produced.

Thanks to lordfranz of NBACards Philippines.

Please help me with my Kobe Bryant Autographed cards want list.

Lebron James 06-07 Exquisite Collection Enshrinements Autograph

autograph

After all these years of collecting, I never had the chance to own a Lebron James autographed card.

Until now.

Being the MVP for the past two years and therefore, one of the most popular NBA players... especially among sports cards collectors, his cardboards are always in high demand. That demand brings his cards to be among the most expensive.

Here's my first ever autographed Lebron James card. What makes this even more special is that is came from a $1,000 dollar pack, 06-07 Exquisite Collection.

This card is from the 06-07 Exquisite Collection Enshrinements set serially numbered to 25, meaning, only 25 cards of this kind are produced. Mine is numbered 11/25.

FRONT

BACK

Lebron's signature is very ugly here with only his old jersey number 23 prominent. But since, the autograph is on-card and it was sold to me cheap for a card worth $325 on the Beckett Price Guide, I will take it anytime.

[Check out the evolution of Lebron's signature over the years.]

Thanks to card_wiz of NBA Cards Philippines for this wonderful card.

NEXT TARGET: a Michael Jordan autographed card

Kobe Bryant Autographed Cards Want List

autograph

When Kobe Bryant got his 5th championship ring last season, I decided to collect his cards.

I know it's virtually impossible to collect all his cards so I decided to focus on his rookie cards as well as his insert cards from his rookie year up to the 1998-99 NBA season.

His autographed cards as very expensive as well so I just made a small list of what I want.

I intend to collect one Kobe auto of each kind below:

1. wearing #8 jersey number - completed (2004-05 UD All-Star Lineup Signature Class)

2. wearing #24 jersey number - completed (2009-10 Crown Royale Majestic Signatures)

3. with piece of jersey - completed (2000-01 SPx Winning Materials Jersey/Warmup)

4. with piece of patch - still looking

5. exquisite card - still looking

6. auto focus (glass card) - still looking

I have already acquired #1, #2 and #3.

Please let me know if you have one of the others I need.

I can buy or you can check my photobucket for a possible trade.

Kobe Bryant 00-01 SPx Winning Materials Jersey/Warmup Autograph

autograph

After six months, I was finally able to snag my second Kobe Bryant auto.

When Kobe got his 5th championship ring last season, I decided to collect his cards.

The first card I got was 2004-05 UD All-Star Lineup Signature Class Kobe Bryant auto which was sold to me by a fellow member at NBA Cards Philippines forum.

Here's my second Kobe Bryant autographed card:

FRONT

BACK

2000-01 SPx Winning Materials Jersey/Warmup Autograph

This card is from the first SPx Winning Materials autographed set. It has a piece of Kobe's game-used jersey and warmup. The autograph is on-card and he even wrote his number 8 besides it.

It books $400 at the Beckett Price Guide before but now settles at $250.

I got this from dhmhoops of eBay.

Please help me with my Kobe Bryant Autographed cards want list.