Sotheby’s Will Spotlight Nike Sneakers & Memorabilia in New ‘Emergence’ Auction

Aaron Royce

7 December 2023 at 2:37 pm·2-min read

Sotheby’s latest auction will feature a prominent piece of Nike history — with an automotive twist.

Within its “Emergence” online auction, which opens for bidding between Dec. 8 to 18, the auction house features a “Nike 1”-lettered license plate that previously belonged to the late Geoff Hollister. Hollister was an early Nike employee who often shared Nike news and sold shoes from his van at track meets with runner Steve Prefontaine; the plate for auction — which is one of two and is estimated to sell for at least $10,000 — was previously attached to the van driven by Hollister and Prefontaine throughout northwestern America.

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Nike, Sotheby's, license plate, auction, auction house, bidding, sneakers, license plate, Geoff Hollister, Steve Prefontaine — The “Nike 1” license plate from Sotheby’s “Emergence” auction.Courtesy of Sotheby’s

“The ‘Nike 1’ license plate bears witness to Nike’s storied ascent, and it is an honor for Sotheby’s to offer this supreme artifact for the very first time, shedding light on its pivotal contribution to Nike’s evolution into the formidable giant it is today,” shared Eric LiBassi, Sotheby’s modern collectables specialist, in a statement.

Other items within the “Emergence” auction include a range of archival, vintage and limited-edition Nike sneakers — notably including an Air Jordan 4 Retro “Encore” from 2005, signed by Eminem (est. $40,000 to $60,000). Additional shoes in the lineup include various Nike SB Dunk Low, Nike Dunk High, Nike Zoom LeBron III and Nike Air Force 1 styles.

Courtesy of Sotheby's

Sotheby’s Nike selection also includes a range of exclusive Nike memorabilia within the lifestyle, home goods and collectible fields. A 1970’s stained glass mirror (est. $3,000 to $5,000), TK (est. TK to TK) and even a 1990 employee waffle iron from Nike’s world headquarters (est. $1,000 to $2,000) are all within the auction slate, as well.

Nike, Sotheby's, shoes, footwear, auction, auction house, bidding, sneakers, license plate, Geoff Hollister, Steve Prefontaine — from Sotheby’s “Emergence” auction.Courtesy of Sotheby’s

You can discover Sotheby’s full “Emergence” catalogue now on the auction house’s website — as well as its Sotheby’s New York galleries, where pieces will be shown through Dec. 8.

In other Sotheby’s news, the auction house began 2023 with a “Dynasty Collection” of six Air Jordan sneakers — all previously worn by Michael Jordan himself. The Nike-focused auction marks its latest athletic and shoe-focused auction this year.

About the Author:

Aaron Royce is the Digital Editor for Footwear News, where he writes stories on trending news, celebrity style, collaborations and in-depth profile interviews. Prior to joining Footwear News, Aaron wrote for publications including PAPER, Grazia and the Daily Front Row. He currently holds a B.S. in mass communications from Virginia Commonwealth University.

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Launch Gallery: 50 Years of Nike Through TV, Film and Celebrities

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