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Even celebrities have not been immune to the huge surges in sports cards prices we've seen lately.  A musical A-Lister is falling into the HOT CARD column with prices rising for Jay-Z's rookie card.

Not all stories we bring you are about six and seven-figure deals.  While we love sharing news of signed Babe Ruth cards or a 500K Tom Brady rookie, sometimes a very affordable card catches our eyes.  Today we'll share a fun card from rap legend, Jay-Z!

This blog is sponsored by JUST COLLECT where we specialize in buying vintage cards, autographs, and collections.  We dig certain modern cards, too.  THESE cards are on our BUY LIST if you're interested in selling!

PS  - don't forget about our Golden Edition EVENT where we're giving away over $3,000 in break credit,, a Zion rookie PSA 9 and plenty of packs and boxes! Check out our event HERE. 

2005-06 Topps NBA Jay-Z Rookie

Even though Reasonable Doubt was released in 1996, and Jay-Z had EIGHT albums by 2005 - oh, and the man owned a piece of the NETS, Topps finally inked a deal with Hova to a deal that gave them exclusive rights to use him on a on a variety of cards and packaging. 

The Topps set consists of 255 total cards.  After the NBA player cards came a set of five celebs in numbers 251-255.  Included in the set are:

• Shannon Elizabeth 251
• Carmen Electra 252
• Jenny McCarthy 253
• Christie Brinkley 254
• Jay-Z 255

Jay appeared on the boxes along with Allen Iverson back in '05, donned in a sweet Tux.  

For years, the Topps Jay-Z rookie card never commanded much value.  I recall setting mine aside in 2005 when the value was at $5.00, and then watch the value dip.  Look at recent sales in eBay:

Prices in December - January

• December 4th = $2.00
• December 7th = $0.99
• December 19th = $5.99
• January 2nd = $5.99 
• January 4th = $12.50
• January 10th = $12.50 
• January 29th = $10.00

Jay-Z's rookie card value started to really climb this month, though.  

Prices in February 

• February 8th = $24.95 
• February 16th = $29.99
• February 16th = $54.00 
• February 17th = $39.00
• February 18th = $42.02
• February 20th = $51.00
• February 22nd = $49.99

Why the Price Increase?

Since last March when the pandemic started, just about every card value seems to have risen in price - more so in the last month.  Whether the card is a 1981 second-year Larry Bird or a Pokeman, values are in a place we haven't seen before.  Jay-Z being one of the greatest rappers of all-time (Sorry, Hova, you'll always be below Biggie for me) is seeing some collecting love he deserves.  Jay-Z sold his shares of the Nets years ago, so the recent success of Brooklyn and their big three most likely has nothing to do with the value in J's card.  Helping the values is the 2005-06 Topps rookie class - future Hall of Famer, Chris Paul, is in this set!  A PSA 10 Paul rookie is roughly $500 today.  Sometimes big cards in a set simply raises value for the remainder of the cards.

A sealed box of 2005-06 Topps with 36 packs sold for $322 on December 15th.  The price today is about $800. When the price of a pack to chase Chris Paul jumps from $9 to $22, other cool cards like Jay-Z has an increase in value.

What is the Price Ceiling for Jay-Z's Rookie?

I can't predict the future and won't venture a guess; I'll let you think about that, though!  What do you think the Jay-Z rookie card will be worth in April?  Tell us your thoughts!

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