With a legacy dating back to 1744, Sotheby’s continues to lead the global auction landscape, now redefining the boundaries of collectibles culture. Since officially launching its Streetwear & Modern Collectibles department in 2022, Sotheby’s has rapidly become a dominant force in the booming markets of sports memorabilia, sneakers, and trading cards.

In 2024, demand for these categories surged to all-time highs, and Sotheby’s was at the forefront. The house attracted a truly global audience, with collectors from more than 45 countries participating in its collectibles sales. Notably, over 70% of buyers in Sotheby’s Streetwear and Modern Collectibles auctions were new to the auction house.

Sotheby’s has set multiple world records throughout the years, cementing its position as a market maker in sports memorabilia. It now holds the top six prices ever achieved for game-worn NBA jerseys, including the record-breaking 1998 Michael Jordan NBA Finals jersey, which sold for $10.1 million. In sneakers, Sotheby’s established the world auction record with the sale of Jordan’s 1998 NBA Finals Game 2 Air Jordan 13s from The Last Dance season for $2.2 million. Another major milestone came in 2024 with the sale of the Dynasty Collection—six game-worn Air Jordans from each of Jordan’s NBA championship-clinching games—hammering at $8 million and becoming the second-highest price ever for Jordan memorabilia.

Sotheby’s success has been amplified through high-profile partnerships with the NBA, the US Open, and Fanatics, including the headline-making Holy Grails trading card auction in New York. Held at the Harlem Parish, the event featured over 40 rare cards—showcasing icons like Tom Brady, LeBron James, Jackie Robinson, and Roberto Clemente—and achieved over $7 million in sales, with an average of $218,000 per card. The sale confirmed Sotheby’s unique ability to present trading cards with the same cultural weight and curatorial excellence as fine art.

By blending centuries of auction heritage with bold innovation and cultural relevance, Sotheby’s is not just participating in the collectibles market but is setting the standard.