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95 Finest Mystery Bordered Refractors

i'm not a basketball collector, but i remember reading reports from 1995 that the Finest Mystery Orange Bordered refractors were tough as all hell to find. apparently, a few sheets were cut up and accidentally inserted into packs, even though they were never intended for public release (there were also reports that they were stolen from the factory, although it was never confirmed). a Beckett article from back in the day stated that there were very few in existence- maybe 5-10 for each player? they were selling for some insane prices, ie $4k for a Jordan.

that's really all i remember about em. does anyone have a price guide that lists these, or gives any additional info? i just won this PSA 9 Barkley for $20. seemed like a steal to me. i might try for the entire set, if a full set even exists

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Comments

  • AllenAllen Posts: 7,165 ✭✭✭
    Yeah they were once very rare but a bunch appeared about 2 years ago. Mostly Barkley, Pippen, O'Neal, Kidd, Sprewell, Webber, and maybe one or two others. Though the Shaq lists for $1000 it can be bought for about $40. the barkley lists for like $600 and can be had for $20 or less. The Jordan is stll like $250+. I saw a set missing the Mashburn go for like $600. The set lists for an insane price in the anual Beckett.
  • damn, haha those are the guys who've been showing up on ebay recently. any idea how many of each exist, and why certain players have become a lot easier to find?
  • Shaq and Webber aren't so difficult to find (I found this out after buying a Webber for $20 and thinking I had found gold... ooooooooops image ). I think Beckett has knocked the set down a bit but still not NEARLY enough. It sucks to think that Topps might have backdoored a batch or three after they initially took off in value, but it's a distinct possibility. Also, I'm thinking that people are semi-counterfeiting them by putting refractor film on top of regular Bordered Mystery Finest cards from the 95-96 set.
    Kobe Who? image At least Dwyane pays proper respect to Da Big Aristotle image

    Yes, I collect shiny modern crap image

    All your Shaq are belong to me image
  • AllenAllen Posts: 7,165 ✭✭✭
    I don't think something like that would get by PSA graders. Besides if it were that easy I would think they would be doing it to 93 Finest Baseball


  • << <i>Shaq and Webber aren't so difficult to find (I found this out after buying a Webber for $20 and thinking I had found gold... ooooooooops image ). I think Beckett has knocked the set down a bit but still not NEARLY enough. It sucks to think that Topps might have backdoored a batch or three after they initially took off in value, but it's a distinct possibility. Also, I'm thinking that people are semi-counterfeiting them by putting refractor film on top of regular Bordered Mystery Finest cards from the 95-96 set. >>



    i actually pondered this idea before, and did some experimentation (and ended up ruining several Refractors in the process). from what i can tell, the "refractive" coating is applied in the second layer, under the chrome stuff. it would be impossible to "create" a refractor without destroying the card.


  • << <i>i actually pondered this idea before, and did some experimentation (and ended up ruining several Refractors in the process). from what i can tell, the "refractive" coating is applied in the second layer, under the chrome stuff. it would be impossible to "create" a refractor without destroying the card. >>



    Shows what I know image Well I guess that leaves the "backdoor" theory as the most logical one, unfortunately. Upper Deck has done the same thing (remember those Game-Dated Parallels that were 1:1500 packs of 1997 and 97-98 Upper Deck releases that, all of a sudden, popped up in quantity on Shop at Home image ); I understood when Classic/Score Board and Collector's Edge products started flooding the market due to their respective bankruptcies, but when companies that are still alive and kicking do stuff like that, it makes me want to write a very frank letter of discontent or three (has it happened yet? no, too lazy image )...
    Kobe Who? image At least Dwyane pays proper respect to Da Big Aristotle image

    Yes, I collect shiny modern crap image

    All your Shaq are belong to me image
  • shaq books at 1000 high beckett value raw still.
  • AllenAllen Posts: 7,165 ✭✭✭
    I am kinda suprised PSA labels them "Bordered Refractor" instead of "test Refractor" as they are more commonly known as.
  • if ne one wants shaq, i have it....
    image
  • AllenAllen Posts: 7,165 ✭✭✭
    I would be interested if it was very cheap


  • << <i>I would be interested if it was very cheap >>



    it still sells at around 10% of book, not that cheap for a insert image
  • AllenAllen Posts: 7,165 ✭✭✭
    you can get them for 4-6% pretty easily
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