2022 Luminaries Ohtani 1/1 Letter Book Sells for $14.8K

2022 Topps Luminaries Autographed Letter Book #LBC-SO1 Shohei Ohtani Signed Game-Used Patch Card (#1/1) Sells for $14,829

On January 16, 2026, Goldin sold a standout modern baseball card: a 2022 Topps Luminaries Autographed Letter Book #LBC-SO1 Shohei Ohtani signed game‑used patch card, serial‑numbered 1/1, for $14,829.

For collectors who focus on Ohtani, high‑end patches, or booklets, this sale is a useful reference point for where premium, non‑rookie Ohtani cards are currently landing in the market.

Card overview and key details

Let’s break down what this card actually is and why it matters.

Basic identifiers

• Player: Shohei Ohtani
• Team on card: Los Angeles Angels
• Year: 2022
• Set: Topps Luminaries Baseball
• Subset: Autographed Letter Book
• Card number: LBC-SO1
• Serial numbering: 1/1 (one of one)
• Rookie status: Not a rookie card (Ohtani’s flagship rookie year is 2018)

Attributes and features

• Booklet format: The card opens like a small book, typically showing the autograph on one panel and a large patch or letter on the other.
• Autograph: On‑card (signed directly on the card surface, not on a sticker), which is generally preferred by collectors.
• Memorabilia: Game‑used patch, designed as a letter patch (usually from the back‑of‑jersey nameplate).
• Serial: 1/1, making this exact copy the only one produced in this configuration.
• Grading: The sale listing did not indicate a third‑party grade (PSA, BGS, SGC, etc.), so this appears to have sold as a raw (ungraded) card.

Topps Luminaries is positioned as a premium, low‑print‑run product. It focuses heavily on autographs and short‑printed hits rather than large base sets. For Ohtani collectors, Luminaries represents one of the higher‑tier, autograph‑driven releases each year.

What makes this card significant to collectors?

Even though it’s not a rookie card, this Ohtani book has several traits that matter in the modern hobby:

1. Ohtani’s unique status in baseball
   Ohtani has reshaped how modern collectors think about active players. A two‑way MVP who both pitches and hits at an elite level, he has:

   • Multiple MVP awards
   • Historic two‑way seasons that invite comparisons to Babe Ruth
   • A global fan base, driving interest from both U.S. and international buyers

   That kind of profile tends to support sustained demand for his higher‑end cards, especially on‑card autos and true 1/1s.

2. Luminaries as a high‑end, low‑supply product
   Compared to mass‑produced base sets, Luminaries is:

   • Ultra modern: Released in 2022, part of the current, low‑print‑run era.
   • Hit‑driven: Boxes are built around guaranteed autographs and low‑serial cards rather than large checklists.
   • Centered on stars: Ohtani, Trout, legends, and other top names headlining the product.

3. Autographed Letter Book format
   Letter patch booklets combine several collecting angles:

   • Jumbo game‑used patch, usually forming a single jersey letter.
   • On‑card signature, which many collectors prefer over sticker autos.
   • Oversized booklet presentation that displays well and distinguishes it from standard cards.

   For player collectors, owning a letter patch piece can feel closer to owning an actual part of the jersey than a typical small swatch.

4. 1/1 scarcity
   While “1/1” does not automatically guarantee long‑term value, it does mean:

   • This specific configuration (design + autograph + patch + numbering) is unique.
   • Another collector cannot acquire the exact same card; they can only look for different 1/1s or parallels.

   In an ultra‑modern landscape filled with parallels and inserts, individual 1/1s can serve as personal “centerpieces” within a player PC (personal collection).

Sale details and price context

• Auction house: Goldin
• Sale date (UTC): January 16, 2026
• Final price: $14,829

Because this card is a true 1/1, there is no direct, repeatable “comp” (short for comparables, meaning similar items with recent sale prices). However, we can still look at related Ohtani cards to understand the ballpark:

• High‑end Ohtani rookies (2018) in key products and parallels can sell in a wide range, from several thousand dollars up to well into five figures for top‑tier, low‑serial, or graded examples.
• Non‑rookie but premium Ohtani 1/1s, especially with on‑card autographs and strong patches, tend to live in a mid‑to‑high four‑figure or low five‑figure range, depending on the product and eye appeal.

Within that broader context, a $14,829 result for a 2022 Luminaries Ohtani Autographed Letter Book 1/1:

• Fits comfortably into the low five‑figure territory where many serious, high‑end Ohtani cards trade.
• Reflects both the appeal of the Luminaries brand and the premium attached to a game‑used letter patch plus on‑card auto.

Exact public comps for this particular card number (LBC-SO1) are naturally scarce or absent, since a one‑of‑one can only sell a limited number of times. When comparing, most hobbyists would look at:

• Other Ohtani Luminaries 1/1 autos (especially with patches or booklet formats).
• Ohtani letter patch books or jumbo patches from similarly positioned high‑end sets (e.g., Triple Threads, Dynasty, Museum, etc.).

Taken together, those reference points suggest that this Goldin result is in line with what an advanced Ohtani collector might reasonably allocate to a premium, non‑rookie centerpiece.

How this fits into the broader Ohtani and modern market

Ohtani’s ongoing hobby profile

By early 2026, Ohtani has firmly established himself as one of the defining players of the ultra‑modern era. That status has a few consequences for the card market:

• Rookie cards remain the main benchmark. Flagship rookies and core rookie parallels (particularly from 2018 Topps and Topps Chrome) are still the primary pricing anchors.
• High‑end non‑rookies matter, too. Premium on‑card autos, 1/1s, and meaningful patches from later years have developed their own market tiers. Collectors who already hold key rookies often branch into these “showcase” cards.

The 2022 Luminaries letter book falls squarely into that second category: a non‑rookie, but clearly a centerpiece‑level item for someone building a serious Ohtani PC.

Ultra modern scarcity and complexity

The ultra‑modern era (roughly mid‑2010s onward) is known for:

• Multiple parallel levels per card.
• Numerous insert and autograph variations.
• An expanded number of brands and configurations.

In that crowded space, the features that help a card stand out are:

• Clear premium branding (like Luminaries).
• Low print run (especially 1/1).
• On‑card autos and game‑used memorabilia.
• Strong design and eye appeal.

This Ohtani booklet checks all of those boxes, which helps explain why a non‑rookie from 2022 can command a five‑figure sale price.

What collectors can take away from this sale

For different types of collectors and small sellers, this Goldin result offers a few practical takeaways.

For Ohtani player collectors

• 1/1 hierarchy matters. Not all 1/1s are viewed equally. A 1/1 from a respected product with a strong patch and on‑card autograph tends to sit near the top of the hierarchy, often just behind the best rookie and prospect issues.
• Non‑rookie centerpieces are viable. If your main goal is to build the best Ohtani PC you can, a card like this can function as a “headline” item without needing to be from his rookie year.

For set and brand collectors

• Luminaries continues to hold its lane as a premium, low‑volume product. High‑end sales like this support the idea that Luminaries hits can stand shoulder‑to‑shoulder with other established upper‑tier releases.
• Booklets have a specific audience. Not everyone likes storing or grading booklet cards, but collectors who do tend to treat them as display pieces rather than just another slab. That dynamic can support strong prices for the right names and patches.

For small sellers and hobbyists tracking the market

• Context is everything for 1/1s. When looking at a card like this, there is no clean price chart. Instead, you compare:

  • Other high‑end cards of the same player.
  • Similar formats (booklets, jumbo patches, premium autos).
  • Brand reputation and desirability.

• Auction houses still play a key role for premium pieces. Goldin and similar houses attract a pool of buyers who are already comfortable operating in four‑ and five‑figure ranges. For cards at this level, that exposure can matter more than it would for lower‑tier items.

Final thoughts

The $14,829 sale of the 2022 Topps Luminaries Autographed Letter Book #LBC-SO1 Shohei Ohtani 1/1 at Goldin on January 16, 2026, reinforces a few ongoing trends:

• Elite, non‑rookie Ohtani cards with on‑card autos and game‑used patches can anchor serious collections.
• Premium, low‑print‑run products like Luminaries remain relevant in a crowded ultra‑modern landscape.
• One‑of‑one booklets continue to find determined buyers, even without direct, repeatable comps.

For collectors and small sellers, this sale is a useful data point: not a guarantee of future prices, but a clear snapshot of what a high‑end Ohtani 1/1 booklet can command in today’s hobby environment.