The Nike MAG Sells for $82k at Sotheby’s ‘Important Sneakers and Modern Collectibles’ Auction

Sotheby’s are going full-steam ahead with their latest auction featuring rare creps and pop-cultural items, which has been titled ‘Important Sneakers and Modern Collectibles’. The lineup is packed to the brim with plenty of mythical iterations and some obscurities that have flown under the radar for years. Prices stretch way into the tens-of-thousands, and includes true unicorn samples and wild collectible items like a Louis Vuitton foosball table.

One of the rarest pairs to grace this auction house is the Nike Dunk High sample made in collaboration with Futura for Lance Armstrong’s Livestrong charity. It is modelled after the ‘FLOM’ Dunk High, which is a rarity in itself, having only approximately 25 pairs being made. This alternate one-of-one colourway was originally created as part of Nike’s Livestrong Greatest Hits Pack in 2009 and boasted white leather uppers. You need serious coin to cop this US 9, as the bid starts at a cool 80,000 EUR.

Jordan Brand aren’t lacking in the rare sneaker market and have plenty of PEs and samples floating around, including this Air Jordan 1 ‘Family’ sample. With a premium leather production, under 100 pairs were made and given to ‘Family’ of Jordan Brand and their sponsored athletes.

A true myth in the lore of Nike, this Dunk Low ‘Distressed’ is an unreleased iteration from the 2000s. Imagery of these pairs have circulated online before and it was alleged that four samples existed without the lateral heel branding. However, this pair does boast the ‘EST.’ on the rear, and is rumoured to be the only one in existence.

Legendary Paris boutique Colette is sorely missed by the fashion community since closing its doors in 2017. That same year, Jordan Brand honoured their legacy by creating this highly-limited Air Jordan 1, which was only given to the store’s closest confidants and employees. It was crafted in the retailer’s signature blue hue and reads 'Au Revoir' on the outsole.

Another rarity from the high-fashion space is the Chanel x Reebok Instapump Fury collaboration. Commanding a starting bid of 10,000 EUR, they are rare as hens teeth and an important moment in the history of fashion and sneakers. Debuted as part of Chanel’s 2001 Spring/Summer collection and distributed in limited quantities, it’s credited as one of the first cross-market collaborations between a fashion house and sportswear brand.

Tom Sachs's Nike releases are known for commanding high secondary market prices, but this pack stretches into the high four figures. Included in this lot is the the Mars Yard 2.5 and other accessories and apparel made for the final NikeCraft Wear test program in 2021. This selection arrives with the telltale wear-and-tear from the individual who wore this in the test.

Patta’s World Tour went down in 2017 and saw the legendary Amsterdam retailer opening pop-up shops around the globe with exclusive product on offer. Once they reached Asia, they debuted their highly limited bespoke Air Force 1 that only saw 80 pairs created with a hefty RRP of $800.

Also offered up in this already-stacked selection are a bunch of kicks that have been signed by their respective collaborators. First up is the legendary Fragment x Air Jordan 1, which rocks Hiroshi Fujiwara’s signature on the midsole. Second is the Nike SB Dunk Low ‘Richard Mulder’ signed by the man himself – one of the first four Nike SB team riders! Lastly, there’s the recent MSCHF 2X4 Boot, which hosts Spike Lee’s signature on the lateral.

On top of all these true obscure rarities, are some of the usual suspects that command five-figure price tags, such as the ‘Tiffany’, ‘Freddy Krueger’ samples and prototypes, ‘What The’ and ‘Paris’ SB Dunks, Nike MAGs, F&F Off-White x Nike Air Force 1s, and 1985 Air Jordan 1 ‘Chicagos’. On offer are also a selection of silhouettes from the personal collection of the late legendary sneakerhead DJ AM, which includes the Air Force 2 High ‘76ers’ and select Nike Dunks.

The Sotheby’s ‘Important Sneakers and Modern Collectibles’ auction is currently open now for bidding and will close on March 26.