First 2011 Bowman Harper autograph sale tops $1,000

By Chris Olds | Baseball Editor

There will be plenty of big pricetags attached to the autograph cards of 18-year-old Washington Nationals prospect Bryce Harper in the coming days as his highly sought-after first Nationals autographs are found in 2011 Bowman.

Like this one, for example, that is attached to a card that was not announced but was found in packs.

However, the only pricetags that matter — and the only ones that count in the price guides — are actual sales, and the first copy of Harper’s autograph sold on Monday night in advance of the product’s release on Wednesday.

How much?

The card sold for $1,150 via a best offer on eBay.

Harper, who is at Class A Hagerstown, Md., is hitting .366 with nine home runs and 31 RBI throguh his first 36 games as a pro. He just recently came off an 18-game hitting streak. His performance is clearly worth promotional consideration. His next level? That’s the question right now.

His autographs aren’t alone as red-hot sellers as a Blue Refractor — perhaps the most sought-after color in the Refractor Rainbow that’s not especially rare (numbered to 250) — sold for $232.50 after 16 bids, while a Green parallel of his standard card, limited to 450 copies, sold for $137.26.

His first standard Chrome card? It sold for $135. 29 — a total that will surely come down as more and more copies are found and sold.

Chris Olds is the editor of Beckett Baseball. Have a comment, question or idea? Send an e-mail to him at colds@beckett.com. Follow him on Twitter by clicking here.