Description: This is a rare opportunity if there ever was ever to own a 1996 Topps Chrome Kobe Bryant #138 Refractor Rookie with “Zero Greening”. A lot of “Green” or “Hulk colored” Kobe’s are on the market and have exchanged hands quite a few times. The beauty in this card in my humble opinion is to capture Kobe in his essence and the off colored ones to me totally miss that opportunity. Kobe was a “Majestic Beast”, to have the card look just like him respectfully honors his greatness. With that being said this particular card was sent to grading with the help of Joe and his team at “Got Baseball Cards” in Loganville, GA. The card came back as a BGS 8 and I immediately questioned the surface which should have been a 9 at minimum. This card is extremely clean and outside of the 8 on centering this is one of the few “Zero Green” copies that still exist. I’ve heard several self-proclaimed experts say that eventually they all will turn green and that simply is not true. I’ve have spent 30 years of my life in printing and I know that the greening is a direct result of exposure to heat or cold temperatures which creates moisture and the sun, fluorescent or uv lights will activate the greening which is a form of oxidation. Take a perfect old car with a big chrome bumper in a moisture controlled environment and keep it covered for 25 years, take that same car and sit it outside for 25 years. Which chrome bumper will look better? This is no different, this card sat in the top loader it was placed in shortly after being pulled in 1996 until a few years ago when it was graded. The top loader was yellowing and the card spent most of its life in a small box tucked away in a chest drawer. If you can’t tell by now I’m a true collector and I have a passion for beautiful and unique pieces. This is one of my favorite cards and I only want it to go to someone that appreciates the beauty and rarity of this piece. I would argue that the Pop on “Zero Green “ Kobe refractor rookies is less than 100 maybe even 75, do your own research it will shock you. Any questions about the card or arrangements, feel free to shoot me a email. Thanks for stopping by and please check out my other listings if time permits.
Price: 40000 USD
Location: West Columbia, South Carolina
End Time: 2024-11-11T08:32:12.000Z
Shipping Cost: N/A USD
Product Images
Item Specifics
All returns accepted: ReturnsNotAccepted
Card Size: Standard
Autographed: No
League: National Basketball Association (NBA)
Set: 1996 Topps Chrome
Print Run: SSP
Player/Athlete: Kobe Bryant
Year Manufactured: 1996
Material: Card Stock
Insert Set: Topps Chrome Refractor
Original/Licensed Reprint: Original
Vintage: No
Event/Tournament: NBA Finals
Card Thickness: 20 Pt.
Type: Sports Trading Card
Sport: Basketball
Parallel/Variety: Refractor
Language: English
Card Name: Kobe Bryant Topps Chrome Refractor Rookie
Manufacturer: Topps
Features: Rookie
Team: Los Angeles Lakers
Card Number: 138
Season: 1996
Country/Region of Manufacture: United States
