What Are the Most Valuable 2011-12 Panini Preferred Basketball Cards?

If the initial sales of 2011-12 Panini Preferred Basketball are any indication, high-end basketball card collectors appear to have gotten over the NBA's labor dispute. After about a week on the market, seven cards from the set have already sold for more than $1,000, including four that soared past $2,000.

For the past several months, the market for high-end basketball cards has heated up. While late-90s stuff has led the way, thanks in large part to Michael Jordan, newer stuff has also been moving well. Low-numbered autographs and patches of marquee players in 2011-12 Panini Preferred Basketball are proving this as well.

The top two sales, thus far, both belong to Kobe Bryant. A Panini's Choice Award Emerald Autograph numbered to 3 topped out at $3,506.78. The one-of-one Black version of the same card went for $3,050. Both cards feature on-card autographs and are based on the design of the Cramer's Choice cards Pacific produced about a decade ago.

Also very strong in early 2011-12 Panini Preferred Basketball sales are the Silhouette Autographed Patch cards. Another throwback to the Pacific brand, the cards have a die-cut player image on top of an embedded jersey or patch piece. The cards are also highlighted by on-card signatures. A pair of Derrick Rose Silhouette autographed patch cards, each numbered to 5, sold for $2,605.10 and $1,999.99. Other strong Silhouette sales included $2,450 for a Bryant 4/10, $899.99 for a John Stockton 5/5, and $720 for a Blake Griffin 2/3.

Unopened boxes of 2011-12 Panini Preferred Basketball are moving at about $200.

1. 2011-12 Panini Preferred Basketball Panini's Choice Award Emerald Autograph Kobe Bryant 3/3 - $3,506.78

2. 2011-12 Panini Preferred Basketball Panini's Choice Award Black Autograph Kobe Bryant 1/1 - $3,050

3. 2011-12 Panini Preferred Basketball Silhouette Autographed Patch Derrick Rose 2/5 - $2,605.10

4. 2011-12 Panini Preferred Basketball Silhouette Autographed Patch Kobe Bryant 4/10 - $2,450

5. 2011-12 Panini Preferred Basketball Silhouette Autographed Patch Derrick Rose 5/5 - $1999.99

6. 2011-12 Panini Preferred Black Signatures Kobe Bryant 1/1 - $1,991

7. 2011-12 Panini Preferred Black Signatures Kevin Durant 1/1 - $1,625

8. 2011-12 Panini Preferred Basketball Silhouette Autographed Patch John Stockton 5/5 - $899.99

9. 2011-12 Panini Preferred Basketball Legends Book Card "Legend" 2/3 - $790

Features Elgin Baylor, George Mikan, Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, Magic Johnson and Shaquille O'Neal

10. 2011-12 Panini Preferred Basketball Sihouette Autographed Patch Blake Griffin 2/3 - $720

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2011 Preferred Booklet /150 Six Jersey Patches Shaquille Kareem Olajuwon - BGS 9

$1,038.66

2011 Panini Preferred /125 Slam Dunk Game worn Patch booklet card

$650.55

Prince/Battier/Barnes/Artest/Rondo 2011 Preferred 6-Clr 7-Patch Card#097/199!!!

$209.99

2011 Panini Preferred Wall Pondexter Turner Hayward Jones Udoh Rookie /25

$129.00

2010-11 Prestige Preferred Patch Prime /25 Devin Harris #4 Patch

$23.24

2011 Panini Prestige - Preferred Patches #5 Matt Ryan 23/50

$25.00

2011 Panini Preferred Bledsoe Cousins Turner Udoh Hayward Wall Rookie /25

$129.00