On July 23, Sotheby’s will put on sale running shoes made by Nike’s co-founder for 1960s Olympian Harry Jerome. These shoes, which paved the route to the foundation of Nike, could fetch $1 million, AFP reported.
The rare pair of track and field spikes designed by Bill Bowerman for Jerome, a Canadian sprinter who won 100-meter bronze at the 1964 Tokyo Games, features a red arrow that was a prelude to the famous Nike swoosh logo.
Sotheby’s in New York will put the white lace-up shoes on sale online from July 23 to August 2. The auction house estimates that they could go for between $800,000 and 1.2 million dollars. “This value would be the highest ever fetched in an auction of sprinter shoes,” said Sotheby’s.
In April, a pair of Nike Air Yeezy 1s worn by rapper Kanye West sold for $1.8 million at an auction organized by Sotheby’s, hitting a new record. These sums emphasize the major contribution this market makes for traditional auction houses seeking to lure a young audience.
Among 50 other shoes, Sotheby’s is also selling a pair of Converse Fastbreak sneakers that basketball legend Michael Jordan wore during the 1984 Olympic trials. They are expected to fetch up to $80,000 - $100,000.
It will also display a pair of Gold Shoes worn by US sprinter Michael Johnson who won four Olympic gold medals (200 and 400 meter tracks). It’s estimated to fetch $30,000 to $50,000.
