There’s a veritable tome of lore surrounding the Air Jordan 1 — from major stories like the courtship that first brought Michael Jordan to Nike over rivals adidas and Converse and the Swoosh’s brilliant, truth-twisting “Banned” campaign to more esoteric tales like the special PEs created for MJ after he broke his foot and the famed “Jumpman” campaign starring the Air Jordan 1 “Black Toe” that garnered Nike a lawsuit (it drew heavily from an old, similar picture in which, funnily enough, MJ was wearing New Balance).
One of the stories that has long leaned more towards the esoteric side of the spectrum (until recently) was the graphic originally used on the Air Jordan 1’s collar. Before designer Peter Moore created the now-iconic ball-and-wings logo, the Air Jordan 1 featured a simple “Air Jordan” spellout in the same spot, which is set to be shoved into mainstream sneaker consciousness on the forthcoming Air Jordan 1 “Black Toe Reimagined.”
However, it’s also in the headlines for a more true-to-the-original reason, namely that a pair of original 1984 Air Jordan 1 “Bred” samples with the alternate detail are going up for auction. Presented at Grey Flannel Auctions, the pair was gifted to a college basketball coach in the greater Portland area back in 1984, and, until now, have been “meticulously preserved” in the words of the auction house.
Besides the alternate branding, another interesting detail about the shoes is their custom-ordered size, produced to Michael Jordan’s specifications and visible as part of the style code stamped on each shoe’s collar lining. The left sneaker is a size 13, while the right is a 13.5, a half-size difference that MJ maintained for the majority of his NBA career.
If you’re looking to own a piece of Air Jordan history and are willing to part with five figures (or maybe more) to do so, these Air Jordans will go up for auction via Grey Flannel Auctions on Monday, May 20. The minimum bid is set at $25,000 USD.
