---
title: "1961 Fleer Basketball Wilt Chamberlain #8 price, verified sales and population"
url: https://cardvolume.com/sports/basketball/1961-fleer-basketball-wilt-chamberlain-8/
category: Sports cards
updated: 2026-09-27
as_of: 2026-09-27
source: CardVolume (https://cardvolume.com)
---

# 1961 Fleer Basketball Wilt Chamberlain #8: price, verified sales and population

> The 1961 Fleer #8 Wilt Chamberlain is the English Fleer base rookie card for Chamberlain. Collectors search for it because it is the primary playing-era rookie issue for a Hall of Fame center whose NBA records remain central to basketball history.

## Key facts

- CardVolume lists 24 verified sales of the 1961 Fleer Basketball Wilt Chamberlain #8 as of September 27, 2026.
- No grade has the 5 verified sales in 90 days needed for a market price; the most recent verified sale was $7,500 for a Base rookie #8 PSA 8 on September 21, 2026 at eBay.
- The highest verified sale on record is $21,350 for a Base rookie #8 PSA 5 on July 10, 2026 at Heritage Auctions.

## Market price by version and grade

Market price = median of at least 5 verified sales in the last 90 days for that exact version, grader and grade. "—" means not enough verified sales.

| Version | Grade | Market price | Sales in window | Last verified sale | Record sale | Population |
|---|---|---:|---:|---|---|---:|
| Base rookie #8 | PSA 8 | — | 4 | $7,500 (2026-09-21) | $13,595 (2026-09-05) | 185 |
| Base rookie #8 | PSA 7 | — | 2 | $11,800 (2026-08-08) | $12,422 (2025-07-21) | 252 |
| Base rookie #8 | PSA 6 | — | 0 | $5,345 (2025-10-23) | $5,345 (2025-10-23) | 287 |
| Base rookie #8 | PSA 5 | — | 1 | $21,350 (2026-07-10) | $21,350 (2026-07-10) | 242 |
| Base rookie #8 | PSA 4 | — | 2 | $5,250 (2026-08-21) | $5,250 (2026-08-21) | — |
| Qualified graded copy | SGC Authentic Altered | — | 0 | $5,246 (2026-01-30) | $5,246 (2026-01-30) | — |
| Base rookie #8 | SGC 7.5 | — | 0 | $11,100 (2026-01-12) | $13,800 (2025-09-26) | — |
| Base rookie #8 | SGC 6 | — | 0 | $6,863 (2025-05-16) | $6,863 (2025-05-16) | — |
| Base rookie #8 | SGC 3 | — | 0 | $2,257 (2026-01-30) | $2,257 (2026-01-30) | — |

## Verified sales

Each sale was confirmed on the linked page by an automated check or an independent second pass.

| Date | Version | Grade | Price (USD) | Buyer's premium | Venue | Source |
|---|---|---|---:|---|---|---|
| 2026-09-21 | Base rookie #8 | PSA 8 | $7,500 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/88340799/psa) |
| 2026-09-11 | Base rookie #8 | PSA 8 | $5,322 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/88340799/psa) |
| 2026-09-05 | Base rookie #8 | PSA 8 | $13,595 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/88340799/psa) |
| 2026-08-21 | Base rookie #8 | PSA 4 | $5,250 | excluded | Fanatics Collect | [link](https://www.fanaticscollect.com/buy-now/e88bebd1-96d9-405e-99f3-56b0d24c6f76) |
| 2026-08-17 | Base rookie #8 | PSA 4 | $4,080 | excluded | Fanatics Collect | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/14925939/psa) |
| 2026-08-08 | Base rookie #8 | PSA 7 | $11,800 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/46408141/psa) |
| 2026-08-05 | Base rookie #8 | PSA 7 | $10,250 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/46408141/psa) |
| 2026-08-03 | Base rookie #8 | PSA 8 | $4,920 | excluded | Fanatics Collect | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/88340799/psa) |
| 2026-07-10 | Base rookie #8 | PSA 5 | $21,350 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://sports.ha.com/itm/basketball-cards/singles-pre-1970-/1961-fleer-wilt-chamberlain-rookie-8-psa-ex-5-mba-silver-/a/50086-80902.s) |
| 2026-06-22 | Base rookie #8 | PSA 7 | $3,960 | excluded | Fanatics Collect | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/24635777/psa) |
| 2026-06-06 | Base rookie #8 | PSA 8 | $6,500 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/88340799/psa) |
| 2026-05-12 | Base rookie #8 | PSA 7 | $3,564 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/24635777/psa) |
| 2026-04-27 | Base rookie #8 | PSA 5 | $6,000 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/1961-fleer/wilt-chamberlain-8/3728) |
| 2026-03-02 | Base rookie #8 | PSA 7 | $3,110 | not stated | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/24635777/psa) |
| 2026-02-13 | Base rookie #8 | PSA 4 | $2,950 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/1961-fleer/wilt-chamberlain-8/3728) |
| 2026-01-30 | Base rookie #8 | SGC 3 | $2,257 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://sports.ha.com/itm/basketball-cards/singles-pre-1970-/1961-fleer-wilt-chamberlain-rookie-8-sgc-vg-3/a/50082-80964.s) |
| 2026-01-30 | Qualified graded copy | SGC Authentic Altered | $5,246 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://sports.ha.com/itm/basketball-cards/singles-pre-1970-/1961-fleer-wilt-chamberlain-rookie-8-sgc-authentic/a/50082-80963.s) |
| 2026-01-12 | Base rookie #8 | SGC 7.5 | $11,100 | included | Fanatics Collect | [link](https://www.fanaticscollect.com/weekly/fd706e6e-d231-11f0-b3d0-065f4213a51b/1961-fleer-basketball-wilt-chamberlain-rookie-8-sgc-75-nrmt) |
| 2025-12-20 | Base rookie #8 | PSA 7 | $2,928 | not stated | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/24635777/psa) |
| 2025-12-20 | Base rookie #8 | PSA 7 | $3,538 | not stated | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cert/24635777/psa) |
| 2025-10-23 | Base rookie #8 | PSA 6 | $5,345 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/1961-fleer/wilt-chamberlain-8/3728) |
| 2025-09-26 | Base rookie #8 | SGC 7.5 | $13,800 | included | Fanatics Collect | [link](https://www.fanaticscollect.com/premier/5b89ae46-8a8b-11f0-988d-0a58a9feac02/1961-fleer-basketball-wilt-chamberlain-rookie-8-sgc-75-nrmt) |
| 2025-07-21 | Base rookie #8 | PSA 7 | $12,422 | excluded | eBay | [link](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/1961-fleer/wilt-chamberlain-8/3728) |
| 2025-05-16 | Base rookie #8 | SGC 6 | $6,863 | included | Heritage Auctions | [link](https://sports.ha.com/itm/basketball-cards/singles-pre-1970-/1961-fleer-wilt-chamberlain-rookie-8-sgc-ex-nm-6/a/50077-80733.s) |

## How to identify each version

- **Base rookie #8**: 1961 Fleer Basketball #8 with Wilt Chamberlain portrait and Philadelphia Warriors identification; this is the main rookie card covered here.
- **Qualified graded copy**: Same #8 card but with grader qualifiers such as OC, MC, MK, or ST; compare only to similarly qualified sales when possible.
- **Not the #47 In Action card**: The 1961 Fleer #47 Wilt Chamberlain In Action card is a separate card number and should not be merged with #8 sales or population.

**Identity note:** Seed identity is materially correct. The set is often cataloged as 1961 Fleer or 1961-62 Fleer Basketball; this record uses 1961 Fleer Basketball because PSA CardFacts catalogs the card that way.

## Why this card matters

[verified] PSA CardFacts identifies the 1961 Fleer #8 Wilt Chamberlain as his only recognized rookie card and notes that high-grade copies still face the condition obstacles common to the issue. Basketball Hall of Fame and NBA sources document Chamberlain's place in the sport through records such as his 100-point game and career achievements. For card research, the important point is narrower: this is the #8 base rookie, not the #47 In Action card or later Chamberlain issues.

## Identifying the exact version

[verified] The exact target is 1961 Fleer Basketball #8 Wilt Chamberlain in English. PSA cert pages identify the item by year 1961, brand/title Fleer, subject Wilt Chamberlain, card number 8, and category basketball cards. Qualifiers matter: recent PSA pages show sales for straight grades and qualified grades such as OC. The #47 Wilt Chamberlain In Action card belongs to the same Fleer set but is a different card number, so its sales and population should not be mixed with #8.

## What moves the price between versions and grades

[analysis] The opened evidence shows large price separation by grade and by whether a copy is qualified. PSA CardFacts lists recent lower-grade sales, while PSA cert pages show recent PSA 8 similar-item sales ranging from $4,920.00 to $13,595.00 in 2026. The Heritage PSA 10 lot sold for $976,000 on Aug. 23, 2025, while ESPN reported a separate SGC 10 private Goldin-brokered sale at $1.7 million in September 2024. Those are not interchangeable comps for a raw or mid-grade copy.

## Authenticity checks

[verified] Authenticity checks should compare against official references; multiple checks; no destructive tests; copied cert numbers exist. For this card, match the exact 1961 Fleer #8 design, card number, paper, image, back layout, and any grading-label information against PSA or another grader's record. Do not use the #47 In Action card as an authenticity reference for #8. For expensive vintage copies, inspect holder, label, front and back images, qualifiers, seller history, and provenance; a cert lookup reduces uncertainty but does not authenticate every photo or physical slab by itself.

## Common misconceptions

- **Myth:** The #47 Wilt Chamberlain In Action card is the same rookie for pricing purposes. **What the evidence says:** The evidence supports treating #47 as a different card number; the target here is #8, and sports-card identity requires exact card number separation.
- **Myth:** Low PSA population proves the price must go up. **What the evidence says:** The knowledge base rejects that claim; population is a grading-database count, and price still depends on demand, available copies, grade, qualifiers, and actual sales.
- **Myth:** A PSA 8 (OC) sale is a clean PSA 8 comp. **What the evidence says:** The grading chapter requires keeping qualifiers separate because centering and other qualifiers can materially affect buyer comparison.
- **Myth:** A private record sale establishes the current value of every Wilt #8. **What the evidence says:** The pricing chapter requires exact matching comps; an SGC 10 private sale does not price PSA 7, PSA 8, raw, or qualified copies.

## FAQ

### Is the 1961 Fleer #8 Wilt Chamberlain his rookie card?

Yes; PSA CardFacts identifies 1961 Fleer #8 Wilt Chamberlain as his only recognized rookie card.

### How much did a PSA 10 1961 Fleer Wilt Chamberlain sell for?

A PSA 10 copy sold at Heritage on 2025-08-23 for $976,000, with the lot page stating a 22% buyer's premium for the auction.

### What was the $1.7 million Wilt Chamberlain sale?

ESPN reported on 2024-09-06 that a 1961-62 Fleer Wilt Chamberlain rookie graded SGC 10 sold privately for $1.7 million in a Goldin-brokered deal.

### How many PSA 10 copies of the Wilt #8 exist?

PSA CardFacts listed 3 GEM-MT 10 copies for 1961 Fleer #8 Wilt Chamberlain as accessed 2026-09-26; Heritage described a population of four at the time of its 2025 PSA 10 lot, so the live PSA count should be rechecked before publication.

### How much is a PSA 8 Wilt Chamberlain #8 worth?

The opened PSA cert page shows recent PSA 8 similar-item sales from $4,920.00 to $13,595.00 between 2026-06-06 and 2026-09-21, but qualified copies and sale types should be separated.

### Is the Wilt Chamberlain #47 In Action card the same as #8?

No; #47 is a separate 1961 Fleer Wilt Chamberlain In Action card, while this record covers the base rookie #8.

### How do I tell whether a 1961 Fleer Wilt #8 is authentic?

The honest answer is not established from photos alone; compare the exact #8 card to trusted references, verify any slab record, and use multiple non-destructive checks before relying on authenticity.

## Sources

1. [1961 Fleer Wilt Chamberlain](https://www.psacard.com/cardfacts/basketball-cards/1961-fleer/wilt-chamberlain-8/3728) (PSA CardFacts)
2. [1961 Fleer Wilt Chamberlain Rookie #8 PSA Gem Mint 10, Lot #80051](https://sports.ha.com/itm/basketball-cards/singles-pre-1970-/1961-fleer-wilt-chamberlain-rookie-8-psa-gem-mint-10/a/50079-80051.s) (Heritage Auctions)
3. [Wilt Chamberlain rookie card sells for record $1.7 million](https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/41142654/wilt-chamberlain-rookie-card-sells-record-17-million) (ESPN)
4. [Minnesotan's expertise helps lead to record $1.7 million Wilt Chamberlain rookie card sale](https://www.cbsnews.com/minnesota/news/wilt-chamberlain-rookie-card-sale/) (CBS Minnesota)
5. [Why The $1.7 Million Wilt Chamberlain Rookie Card Was Crossed to PSA 10](https://www.si.com/collectibles/auctions/why-the-1-7-million-wilt-chamberlain-rookie-card-was-crossed-to-psa-10) (Sports Illustrated Collectibles)
6. [Cert Verification 88340799: 1961 Fleer #8 Wilt Chamberlain](https://www.psacard.com/cert/88340799/psa) (PSA)
7. [Cert Verification 24635777: 1961 Fleer #8 Wilt Chamberlain](https://www.psacard.com/cert/24635777/psa) (PSA)
8. [PSA Cert Verification](https://www.psacard.com/cert) (PSA)
9. [Wilt Chamberlain](https://www.hoophall.com/hall-of-famers/wilt-chamberlain) (Naismith Basketball Hall of Fame)

## How to cite

> 1961 Fleer Basketball Wilt Chamberlain #8. CardVolume, https://cardvolume.com/sports/basketball/1961-fleer-basketball-wilt-chamberlain-8/ (accessed 2026-09-27).

Machine-readable: https://cardvolume.com/api/v1/cards/sports--basketball--1961-fleer-basketball-wilt-chamberlain-8.json · Method: https://cardvolume.com/methodology/