Original Air Takes Flight:
The Evolution and Influence of Air Jordan Sneakers
- Christie’s Auction – Original Air Takes Flight – The Evolution and Influence of Air Jordan Sneakers
- Air Jordan 1 High “Black/Red,” Original Salesman Sample
NIKE, 1984
Air Jordan 1 High “Black/Red,” Original Salesman Sample
NIKE, 1984
Size 9
High-Top
$22,000-25,000
The “rookie card” of Air Jordan 1s. This incredibly rare pair of the Air Jordan 1 High in the iconic black-and-red, “Bred,” colorway, is a salesman’s sample intended to be used by a Nike rep to sell Michael Jordan’s first signature shoe to footwear retailers in 1985. From one of the earliest production runs of the Jordan 1, this pair was assembled in 1984, as denoted by the production code on the inner collar of the shoe that begins with “84.”
The pair comes with a vintage brown leather Nike-branded briefcase, as well as a vintage Nike catalog from 1985 that includes the Air Jordan 1. The briefcase comes from one of the brand’s earliest “EKINs” (Nike spelled backwards), a product specialist who toured the country educating retailers and consumers about Nike products.
- Air Jordan 1 Low “Metallic Blue”
NIKE, 1985
Air Jordan 1 Low “Metallic Blue”
NIKE, 1985
Size 7
Low-Top
$12,000-15,000
The Air Jordan 1 Low “Metallic Blue” is one of only two colorways of the original low-top version of the Jordan 1 released in 1985-86. Most famous and usually found in the standard high-top version, the Air Jordan 1 was produced in lower quantities and fewer color options in the low-rise edition, as seen here. The design of this colorway features a white leather base with metallic navy blue accents on the side Swooshes and heel tab.
- Air Jordan 1-2, Development Sample
NIKE, 1985-86
Air Jordan 1-2, Development Sample
NIKE, 1985-86
Size 10
High-top
$120,000-160,000
This one-of-a-kind piece of Air Jordan sneaker history is a development sample of the Air Jordan 2 from 1985/86. This pair was created early in the design process of Michael Jordan’s second signature shoe, which was released in 1986. The Air Jordan 2 ultimately looked almost nothing like this sample, indicating that this is one of the very first iterations physically created of the Jordan 2 design, and thought to be the only pair of this particular Air Jordan 2 development sample in existence.
This sample utilizes the sole of the Nike Air Force 2 from 1986, which was the second iteration of the famous Air Force 1. The design of the leather ankle panels is very similar in appearance to the same area of the Air Jordan 1, further illustrating how early in the design process of the Jordan 2 this sample came from.
- Air Jordan 1-14 Complete Set of Originals
Air Jordan 1-14 Complete Set of Originals
All High-Top
$50,000-70,000
No era or collection of sneakers is more heralded than the original fourteen Air Jordan models produced during Michael Jordan’s career with the Chicago Bulls. Although many Air Jordans have been released since Jordan played his final game with the Bulls in 1998, there have been no others to come close to the level of mystique, and desirability, of the original fourteen.
For the first time ever, a set of original Air Jordans 1-14— each individual sneaker from its respective release year—has been assembled for auction, resulting in the chance to own the single greatest and most influential collection of sneakers of our time. The Air Jordan 2 and Air Jordan 6 in the set are signed by Michael Jordan himself.
- Air Jordan 11 “Concord,” Michael Jordan Player Exclusive
NIKE, 1996
Air Jordan 11 “Concord,” Michael Jordan Player Exclusive
NIKE, 1996
Size 13
High-Top
$15,000-20,000
This Air Jordan 11 “Concord” is an extremely rare, unreleased Player Exclusive version of Michael Jordan’s eleventh signature shoe. In Jordan’s size 13, this pair was produced exclusively for Jordan during the 1995-96 NBA season. Unworn by Jordan, this pair remains in pristine condition.
In the celebrated colorway of the “Concord” edition, the Air Jordan 11 is one of the most iconic models in all of Jordan’s signature line.
Air Jordan 13 Baseball Cleat,
CC Sabathia Player Exclusive, Signed
NIKE, 2019
Size 15
High-Top
$5,000-7,000
Standing 6’6” and weighing over 300 pounds, 6 time all-star pitcher CC Sabathia was an imposing presence on the mound during his illustrious baseball career. Accumulating 251 wins, more than 3000 strikeouts, and a Cy Young Award, Sabathia was known both for his on-field dominance and his cleats. Sabathia, a Jordan Brand athlete, wore some of the most sought after player exclusive Air Jordans ever produced for baseball, this Air Jordan 13 Player Exclusive Sample, is among his finest.
Mimicking the design of the original Air Jordan 13 basketball shoe, Sabathia’s cleat adds a special New York Yankees colorway, with nods to the team’s iconic pinstripes. Sabathia’s signature is found on the left toe, and his career win and strikeout totals are listed on the right toe.
- Zoom Kobe 1 Protro “Undefeated,”
Kobe Bryant Player Exclusive
NIKE, 2018
Zoom Kobe 1 Protro “Undefeated,”
Kobe Bryant Player Exclusive
NIKE, 2018
Size 14
High-Top
$6,000-8,000
This is a rare Undefeated x Nike Zoom Kobe 1 Protro Player Exclusive for Kobe Bryant. The late Bryant, regarded as one of the greatest basketball players ever, is known for being one of Michael Jordan’s greatest students. In 2018 renowned Los Angeles based sneaker boutique Undefeated teamed up with Nike for a special pack of the Kobe 1 Protro in four camouflage colorways including green, red, orange, and yellow. The yellow version was inspired by the Los Angeles Lakers, and was debuted by LeBron James on social media shortly after he signed with the team in 2018. This pair was created specifically for Kobe Bryant in his size 14. Bryant was already retired at the time of release, so the pair remains in unworn condition.
Drake x Air Jordan 4 “OVO,” Sample
NIKE, 2017
Size 12
High-Top
$14,000-16,000
Drake, the world-famous, multi-platinum, Grammy-winning rapper and singer, is considered to be one of the biggest non-athlete names to have collaborated with Jordan Brand. Never released to the public, this pair is a very rare Air Jordan 4 “OVO” sample created for Drake.
The colorway was inspired by a rarely seen unreleased sample version of the model from 1989, that featured similar speckling. Unique details added to Drake’s edition include his “OVO,” or “October’s Very Own,” label’s owl logo hidden on the inner side of the heel tab, as well as an additional “OVO” and “6 God” graphics underneath the insoles. This Jordan 4 was created in extremely limited quantities, and presumed to be given only to Drake’s friends and family.
- Air Jordan 4, “Georgetown,” Player Exclusive
NIKE, 2012
Air Jordan 4, “Georgetown,” Player Exclusive
NIKE, 2012
Size 13
High-Top
$16,000-20,000
The Georgetown Hoyas are one of the most storied programs in college basketball history, a team that has produced countless pro players including superstars Patrick Ewing and Allen Iverson. Sponsored by Jordan Brand, the Hoyas have been blessed in recent seasons with some of the most sought after and impressive Air Jordan Player Exclusives to ever hit the court. This 2012 released Air Jordan 4 PE for the Hoyas is one of the most coveted of all of the releases on the collector’s market.
With the school’s dark blue and grey color scheme, this stunning Jordan 4 features a blue nubuck leather upper, with the team’s iconic African-inspired kente cloth pattern—from the team uniform—found across the upper and inner lining.
