In 1996, Fleer/SkyBox introduced the Rubies parallel to SkyBox Premium, adding modest hints of red foil to the release’s base cards and inserting one per box. In 1997, SkyBox dug deeper into the mine to revitalize the parallel with a touch of rarity and rebranded it as Star Rubies, an /50 set that helped catapult serial-numbered parallels into the mainstream. One of the greatest players of his generation whose impact on hoops collecting remains strong today, Kobe Bryant unsurprisingly stands as one of the most treasured Star Rubies subjects.
In nature, star ruby gemstones feature a unique internal star-shaped phenomenon called an asterism. A star ruby featuring prominent color, cut, clarity, and carat ranks among the scarcest gems on the planet, and considering these SkyBox parallels stand among the toughest-to-find cards from the ’90s, the Star Rubies name fits perfectly. In addition to this example’s eccentric holographic background and vibrant red foil accents, this flashy parallel features the bookend 50/50 serial number, adding even more lustrous allure to the Bryant beauty.
The certification number on this card has been checked against the third-party grader's online database and is active as of 11/05/24.
