AI Appraisal Estimate

This is a 1994 Upper Deck NFL football card featuring legendary Hall of Fame wide receiver Jerry Rice of the San Francisco 49ers. The card standard size (2.5" x 3.5") and features a gloss-finished color photograph of Rice in mid-stride, carrying a football while wearing the iconic red and gold 49ers home uniform. Physically, the card is constructed from premium cardstock with white borders. The top left corner displays the holographic Upper Deck diamond logo. The bottom section includes a textured, football-skin patterned border containing his name 'Jerry Rice' and position 'WR', alongside the 49ers team logo. The left side margin features a distinctive gold-toned vertical graphic strip. Regarding condition, the card appears well-preserved inside a clear protective sleeve; the centering seems slightly shifted toward the bottom border. The corners appear sharp from this perspective with no visible surface creases or heavy ink fading. This card represents a mid-90s era of sports collectables known for higher quality print standards and holographic security features. The overall craftsmanship is indicative of Upper Deck's high-end market position during the 1990s.

Based on my visual inspection of this 1994 Upper Deck Jerry Rice #157, the item presents in a condition consistent with a Near-Mint (NM 7) or Near-Mint to Mint (NM-MT 8) grade. The gloss retains its original luster, and the corners show minimal wear. I observe a vertical centering bias, with the bottom border appearing slightly thinner than the top, which is common for this printing run. Authenticity markers, such as the holographic Upper Deck diamond logo and the specific gold-toned graphic striping, appear consistent with 1990s production standards. The market for 1990s base cards is heavily saturated due to the high production volumes of the 'junk wax' and early 'premium' eras. While Jerry Rice remains the premier wide receiver for collectors, this specific card is a common base issue rather than a rare insert or parallel. Current market comparables for ungraded copies typically range from $1 to $5, while specimens professionally graded as Gem Mint (PSA 10) can command $30-$50. Limitations of this appraisal include the inability to detect surface micro-scratching, paper loss on the reverse, or 'edge chipping' often found on high-gloss stock without a physical Loupe examination. A definitive valuation would require 10x magnification to confirm border integrity and a light-diffraction test to verify the hologram's depth. To reach the higher end of the value range, third-party authentication and grading by PSA, BGS, or SGC would be necessary to formalize the condition and verify the card has not been trimmed or recolored.