SpongeBob Triple Auto 1/1 Sapphire Sells for $18.9K

The worlds of pop culture and premium trading cards crossed paths again on February 26, 2026, when Goldin sold a uniquely unusual piece: a 2025 Topps Chrome SpongeBob 25th Anniversary Sapphire Edition Triple Autographs Padparadscha #TA-SPS Tom Kenny/Bill Fagerbakke/Rodger Bumpass, numbered 1/1 and graded PSA MINT 9, for $18,910.

For a card built around a cartoon, this sale sits squarely in the same conversation as many high‑end sports and entertainment cards. Below, we’ll unpack why.

Card overview: what exactly sold?

Let’s break down the full title of the card and what each part means for collectors:

• Year & product: 2025 Topps Chrome SpongeBob 25th Anniversary
• Subset: Sapphire Edition
• Card type: Triple Autographs – Padparadscha parallel
• Card number: #TA-SPS
• Signers: Tom Kenny (voice of SpongeBob SquarePants), Bill Fagerbakke (Patrick Star), Rodger Bumpass (Squidward Tentacles)
• Serial numbering: 1/1 (one‑of‑one; only copy produced)
• Grading company: PSA
• Grade: PSA MINT 9

Topps Chrome SpongeBob 25th Anniversary is part of the wider trend of premium, Chrome‑style entertainment sets. The Sapphire Edition branding typically signals a more limited, higher‑end parallel line, similar to what we see in Topps Sapphire for baseball.

The Padparadscha tag draws on the hobby’s habit of using gemstone names for rare color parallels. In modern sets, Padparadscha parallels are usually among the rarest or most visually distinctive versions, often with pink–orange hues inspired by the padparadscha sapphire.

This card is not a rookie card in the traditional sports sense. For collectors, it functions more like a key first‑wave premium auto card for the SpongeBob IP: a multi‑signed, high‑end Chrome/Sapphire autograph that anchors the checklist.

Why this card matters to collectors

Several attributes stack together to make this a centerpiece card for SpongeBob and broader entertainment collectors:

1. Triple on‑card autograph of core characters
   Tom Kenny, Bill Fagerbakke, and Rodger Bumpass are the voices of SpongeBob, Patrick, and Squidward—three of the franchise’s foundational characters. Multi‑signed cards that put all three together are naturally much scarcer than single autos.

2. 25th Anniversary commemorative set
   Anniversary releases often serve as “planting flags” in a brand’s cardboard history. A 25th anniversary Topps Chrome treatment gives SpongeBob a structured, modern set that collectors can treat roughly the way sports collectors think about key years in a player’s card timeline.

3. Sapphire Edition + Padparadscha = premium lane
   Within the entertainment category, Sapphire parallels signal a higher tier—clean chromium finish, tighter print runs, and a clearer chase structure. The Padparadscha layer puts this in the upper echelon of that tier.

4. 1/1 serial numbering
   A one‑of‑one means there is literally only one copy of this specific parallel and autograph configuration. That removes the usual discussion of population counts; scarcity is absolute.

5. PSA MINT 9 grade
   PSA is the largest third‑party grading company in the hobby. A PSA 9 indicates strong centering, edges, corners, and surface, with only minor flaws. For a chromium card with multiple autos and likely foil accents, avoiding surface defects and chipping is not guaranteed, so a 9 provides real reassurance.

In short, this card functions as a marquee trophy piece for anyone building a high‑end SpongeBob, Nickelodeon, or broader pop‑culture collection.

Market context: what does $18,910 tell us?

The Goldin sale closed at $18,910 on February 26, 2026.

Because this is a 1/1, there are no direct like‑for‑like comps (comparable sales of the identical card). In the hobby, when we say “comps,” we usually mean recent sales of the same or very similar cards to get a sense of market range. For a one‑of‑one, the best we can do is:

• Look at other high‑end SpongeBob or Nickelodeon autos
• Compare to other triple or multi‑signed entertainment 1/1s
• Check where the price sits relative to premium Sapphire or low‑print modern entertainment cards

Across major marketplaces and auction houses, there is not a deep history yet of triple‑signed Sapphire Padparadscha SpongeBob cards in graded holders. That’s typical for an ultra‑modern (roughly post‑2018) entertainment insert like this—print runs are low, and big cards often disappear into personal collections quickly.

From public, recent data points in the entertainment lane:

• Single‑signed Tom Kenny autos from mass‑market sets tend to sit at significantly lower price levels, especially ungraded or in base (non‑short print) formats.
• Other multi‑signed entertainment 1/1s—for example, key cast members from major franchises—have occasionally breached five figures when the property has enduring cross‑generational appeal.
• High‑end Sapphire and low‑serial parallels from popular franchises (Star Wars, Marvel, anime licenses) have shown a pattern: the very top cards (1/1s, key character/auto combinations) often clear well above the rest of the checklist, and infrequently reappear.

Within that broader framework, the $18,910 realized price fits the profile of:

• A top‑tier franchise (SpongeBob is globally recognized and multi‑generational)
• A premium configuration (Sapphire, rare color parallel, on‑card triple auto)
• A truly unique copy (1/1) in a strong grade (PSA 9)

Because entertainment cards don’t have the same long, well‑documented sales history as vintage baseball or basketball, it’s hard to quantify whether this is definitively a “record” for SpongeBob trading cards. What is clear is that this sale places the card in the upper price band for modern non‑sport/entertainment singles.

Grading, population, and scarcity

In sports cards, collectors often consult the pop report (population report)—a grading company’s count of how many copies of a card exist at each grade—to understand supply.

For this card, a population count is largely academic:

• It is a 1/1, so we know only one exists by design.
• As of this sale, there is no deep stack of graded examples for this specific card.

However, the PSA MINT 9 label still matters for two reasons:

1. Condition clarity – The buyer doesn’t have to second‑guess corners, surface, or centering from listing photos alone.
2. Market confidence – High‑end collectors often prefer key cards already slabbed by a major grader, both for authenticity of the autos and for future liquidity if they ever decide to sell.

In ultra‑modern chromium sets, seeing a 9 instead of a 10 is common—surface micro‑scratches, print lines, or minor edge issues can quickly pull a card out of gem‑mint territory. The 9 suggests the card presents well in hand, which matters a lot for a showcase piece.

Where this sale sits in the broader entertainment card trend

The last several years have seen a steady rise in attention to non‑sport and entertainment cards:

• Licensed entertainment sets (Star Wars, Marvel, anime, gaming, and now Nickelodeon properties) are getting full Chrome, Sapphire, and premium auto treatment.
• Character‑driven collecting has broadened the hobby audience—people who never followed sports can still connect deeply with an IP like SpongeBob.
• Auction houses like Goldin now dedicate regular space to high‑end entertainment cards alongside traditional sports grails.

This SpongeBob triple auto 1/1 checks the boxes that have mattered in other segments:

• Strong, recognizable IP
• A clear chase structure (Chrome/Sapphire, numbered parallels)
• A standout configuration (multi‑signer, rare color)
• Third‑party authentication and grading

As more collectors move from casual fandom to structured collecting of their favorite shows and franchises, cards like this help set early price and desirability benchmarks for the category.

What this means for collectors and small sellers

A few takeaways, whether you’re new to entertainment cards or already deep into the lane:

1. One‑of‑ones are their own category

For 1/1s, traditional comp hunting only goes so far. Instead of trying to pin down a precise “value,” it’s more helpful to think in ranges and pay attention to:

• The strength of the IP (how big and enduring is the franchise?)
• The signers or characters involved
• The tier of the set (mass‑market vs Chrome vs Sapphire or equivalent)
• The auction venue and timing (visibility, bidder pool, and current hobby attention)

2. Multi‑signed cards can form the core of a PC

PC (personal collection) builders often look for one or two “flagship” cards that represent a property in their collection. For SpongeBob, a triple auto of the main voices in a premium set is a strong candidate for that centerpiece role.

If you’re building a SpongeBob, Nickelodeon, or broader animation PC, you may not chase this specific 1/1, but watching sales like this can help you:

• Understand how collectors rank single vs dual vs triple autos
• See how much premium the market places on Sapphire and rare parallels

3. Grading can be a differentiator in ultra‑modern entertainment

In mass‑printed base stickers or cards, grading often doesn’t move the needle much. In contrast, for low‑print, high‑end autos like this, a PSA 9 or BGS/BVG equivalent tends to:

• Give buyers more confidence in authenticity and condition
• Make the card easier to catalog and insure

If you pull or own similar cards from the same or related sets, it may be worth reviewing them closely for grading potential.

4. Entertainment cards are no longer a side show

Sales like this one at Goldin reinforce that high‑end entertainment pieces are now competing for attention and budget with modern sports grails. For collectors, that means:

• A wider field of legitimate, long‑term PC targets
• More structured sets to chase outside of traditional sports
• A growing body of auction data to reference when buying or selling

Final thoughts

The 2025 Topps Chrome SpongeBob 25th Anniversary Sapphire Edition Triple Autographs Padparadscha #TA-SPS Tom Kenny/Bill Fagerbakke/Rodger Bumpass 1/1, graded PSA MINT 9, is more than a novelty. At $18,910 via Goldin on February 26, 2026, it stands as a clear marker of how far high‑end entertainment cards have come.

For SpongeBob fans, it might be the single most complete encapsulation of the show’s core trio on cardboard. For the broader hobby, it’s another data point that pop culture, when paired with premium card technology and true scarcity, can comfortably sit in five‑figure territory.

As always, use sales like this as context, not a forecast. The best collecting decisions still start with what you genuinely enjoy owning—whether that’s a triple‑signed 1/1 or a simple base card that reminds you why you loved a show in the first place.