An original signed photograph tied to one of Michael Jordan’s most recognizable moments is taking center stage in Goldin’s Fall Photography Auction. The image, a PSA-certified Type 1 original photo, captures Jordan elevating from the foul line during the era of his unforgettable NBA Slam Dunk Contest performances in 1987 and 1988.
Few basketball photographs carry the same instant recognition. Jordan gliding toward the rim became one of the defining visuals of the sport, and the original photo behind that image now stands as one of the featured pieces in a sale built around major sports legends and historically important moments.
The auction runs through Nov. 4 and includes a range of vintage and modern sports photography, with basketball, boxing, baseball, football, and soccer all represented through notable Type 1 and original images.
Why the Michael Jordan Photo Matters
The Jordan lot brings together several qualities collectors actively chase in the photography market. It is tied to an iconic moment, it comes from Bulls team photographer Bill Smith, it carries PSA Type 1 certification, and it is signed by Jordan.
For more collector background, read Michael Jordan Cards Draw Major Attention at Heritage’s Fall Auction.
That combination gives the piece crossover appeal. Photo collectors value original imagery with clear historical significance, while Jordan collectors continue to pursue items connected to his most famous on-court moments. Memorabilia buyers who focus on signed material also have a direct reason to watch the bidding.
Type 1 photographs occupy a distinct place in the hobby. In broad terms, a Type 1 photo is an original photograph developed from the negative within approximately two years of when the image was taken. When the subject is a generational athlete and the image is already embedded in sports culture, the result can be a premium-level collectible with importance well beyond a standard signed photo.
Jordan’s foul-line takeoff has lived for decades as a shorthand image for athletic creativity, hang time, and the NBA’s rise as a global entertainment force. That helps explain why an original example tied to the image stands out even in an auction filled with recognizable names.
For another perspective on this story, read Signed Michael Jordan Dunk Photo Leads Goldin’s Fall Photography Auction.
A Signature Image From the Slam Dunk Era
Jordan’s slam dunk contest appearances remain among the most replayed and celebrated highlights of his early Chicago Bulls career. His airborne approach from the foul line became part of basketball mythology, helping define not only the contest itself but also his public image as a transcendent athlete.
The featured photograph draws its power from that legacy. Collectors are not simply bidding on a picture of Jordan in flight. They are bidding on an original object linked to one of the most famous visual moments in basketball history.
That distinction is important in the current memorabilia landscape. As collectors become more educated about photo classifications, provenance, and image use, original photographs with certified status have continued to attract stronger interest. A signed Jordan Type 1 example tied to a culturally iconic play checks many of the boxes advanced collectors want.
Goldin Auction Includes Other Major Basketball Images
Jordan is not the only basketball legend represented in the sale. A Sept. 29, 1996 Type 1 photo of Kobe Bryant as an 18-year-old rookie in his Lakers uniform is also included, giving the auction another significant image from an early chapter in NBA history.
Early Bryant material has remained a major category across cards, autographs, game-used pieces, and photography. A rookie-era Type 1 image from his first Lakers season connects to the beginning of a career that became one of the most influential of the modern basketball era.
The auction also features an original Type 1 photo of Wilt Chamberlain from 1945, showing the future Hall of Famer in a fourth-grade class photo. The image reportedly captures a 10-year-old Chamberlain already towering over his classmates, giving collectors an unusually early glimpse of one of basketball’s most physically dominant figures.
That Wilt photo has appeal beyond simple rarity. Childhood images of all-time sports stars are often scarce, and when they surface in original form, they can attract attention from collectors who specialize in pre-rookie, pre-professional, or developmental-era material.
Notable Type 1 Photos Across Multiple Sports
While the Jordan photo serves as the lead attraction, the sale reaches across several sports with a group of historically important original images.
- Jim Brown: A Type 1 original photo used to create the image on Brown’s 1958 Topps rookie card is part of the auction.
- Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X: An oversized Type I original photo dated Feb. 25, 1964 captures the famous “One Night in Miami” scene following Ali’s victory over Sonny Liston.
- Jackie Robinson: A 1946 Montreal Royals Type I original photo predating his groundbreaking 1947 Major League debut is included.
- Pelé: A July 5, 1957 Type 1 original photo shows the soccer icon at age 16 before his rookie season and is identified as the earliest Type 1 image of Pelé wearing a Brazil jersey.
That range shows how the sports photography segment continues to overlap with several collecting niches at once. Card collectors may pursue photos tied to rookie cards or famous published images. Historical collectors may focus on civil rights-era figures, barrier breakers, or internationally significant athletes. Others seek visually striking one-of-one style pieces that stand apart from more commonly available signed memorabilia.
Jim Brown Rookie Card Image Adds Card Collector Appeal
The Jim Brown lot should be especially interesting to football card collectors because of its direct connection to one of the hobby’s most important vintage rookie cards. Original photographs used to produce card images occupy a unique lane in the market, blending card history with original photography collecting.
When a photo can be tied to a famous trading card issue, it becomes more than a standalone image. It becomes part of the production story behind a cornerstone collectible. Brown’s 1958 Topps rookie card remains one of the key football cards of the postwar era, so an original photo linked to that card naturally carries added significance.
Ali and Malcolm X Photo Captures a Historic Moment
The oversized Feb. 25, 1964 original photo of Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X stands out for reasons that go far beyond sports. The “One Night in Miami” image has become one of the defining photographs associated with Ali’s early career and his place in American history.
Taken after Ali defeated Sonny Liston, the image sits at the intersection of boxing, culture, religion, race, and celebrity. In the world of sports photography, pieces like this often appeal to both memorabilia buyers and collectors of broader historical Americana.
Because iconic Ali imagery remains highly sought after, any original certified example connected to a celebrated moment tends to draw close scrutiny. Add Malcolm X to the frame, and the photo gains another layer of historical weight.
Jackie Robinson and Pelé Bring International Historical Reach
The 1946 Jackie Robinson Montreal Royals Type I original photo represents another foundational piece of sports history. Images from Robinson’s time in Montreal document the year before his 1947 debut in the majors, a debut that permanently changed baseball and American sports.
Collectors looking for Robinson material often gravitate toward items that illustrate the path leading into that milestone. A pre-1947 original image offers a chance to own an artifact from that transition period rather than from the better-known major league chapter that followed.
The Pelé photo adds global range to the auction. Dated July 5, 1957, the Type 1 original reportedly shows Pelé at 16 years old prior to his rookie season and is described as the earliest Type 1 image of him wearing a Brazil jersey. For soccer collectors, early Pelé material remains among the hobby’s most desirable categories, particularly when it features strong period originality and clear historical context.
Why Type 1 Original Photos Continue to Gain Attention
Interest in Type 1 photography has grown steadily as collectors look for pieces with originality, scarcity, and direct links to famous moments. Unlike mass-produced memorabilia, original photos are often singular artifacts from the era in which they were created. Even when multiple prints were made, certified examples with strong provenance and subject matter can feel much closer to owning a piece of the event itself.
That dynamic has helped expand the category in recent years. Collectors who once focused almost entirely on cards or autographs have increasingly added original photography to their want lists, especially when the image is tied to a card, a record-setting athlete, or a transcendent sports moment.
Certification also plays a major role. For many buyers, PSA Type 1 designation helps establish confidence in originality and dating. In a niche where print timing matters significantly, that layer of authentication can have a direct effect on demand and value.
Key Lots Drawing Attention in the Sale
The auction features a strong cross-section of star power and historical significance. Among the most notable pieces are:
- Michael Jordan signed PSA-certified Type 1 original photo of the iconic foul-line slam dunk image from the 1987-88 contest era
- Kobe Bryant Sept. 29, 1996 Type 1 photo showing the 18-year-old rookie in Lakers uniform
- Wilt Chamberlain 1945 original Type 1 class photo from his fourth-grade school year
- Jim Brown Type 1 original photo used for the image on his 1958 Topps rookie card
- Muhammad Ali and Malcolm X Feb. 25, 1964 oversized Type I original photo from the “One Night in Miami” moment
- Jackie Robinson 1946 Montreal Royals Type I original photo from the season before his major league debut
- Pelé July 5, 1957 Type 1 original photo identified as the earliest Type 1 image of him wearing a Brazil jersey
What Collectors Should Watch Before Bidding Ends
With the auction open through Nov. 4, several themes are likely to drive attention in the final stretch. The first is image recognition. Jordan, Ali, Jackie Robinson, and Pelé all have photographs that extend far beyond the hobby and into mainstream sports culture, which can broaden the bidding pool.
The second is category crossover. The Jordan photo appeals to autograph, basketball, and Type 1 collectors at once. The Jim Brown image connects football and card history. The Ali and Malcolm X piece reaches sports and social-history buyers. Those overlaps can make marquee lots especially competitive.
The third is timing within the collecting calendar. Basketball interest often receives a boost as a new NBA season approaches, making Jordan, Kobe, and Wilt lots especially timely. That seasonal attention can help push visibility toward premium basketball artifacts tied to universally recognized names.
For collectors tracking the sports photography market, this sale offers a concise snapshot of what drives the category: certified originality, elite subjects, and images with a lasting place in sports history. The Jordan Type 1 slam dunk photo sits at the center of that formula as bidding continues through Nov. 4.
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