How To Spot a Fake 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Sticker

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The 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan rookie card is one of the most counterfeited cards in the hobby — and with PSA 10 copies now trading above $300,000, the incentive for scammers isn’t going away anytime soon. We’ve put together extensive guides to help collectors avoid getting burned on the base rookie card, and the feedback has been tremendous.

But there’s another card from the same set that doesn’t get nearly enough attention from an authentication standpoint: Jordan’s 1986 Fleer sticker (#8 of 11). Pulled from the same packs as the rookie, the sticker has seen its own significant rise in collector demand — with PSA 10 copies now selling for over $50,000 and PSA 9s commanding $8,000. Where there’s value, there are fakes, and fake Jordan sticker cards are absolutely in circulation.

This guide will walk you through exactly what to look for when authenticating a 1986 Fleer Jordan sticker. If you’re evaluating a purchase or have a card in hand you’re unsure about, you’re in the right place.

For current values, PSA population data, and a full breakdown of how the sticker compares to the base rookie, see our complete buying guide: 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan Sticker Value & Grades →

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Examining A Real 1986 Fleer Jordan Sticker

As we always like to do in the guides, let’s first take a look at a real 1986 Fleer Michael Jordan sticker.  You’ll notice that even on a real card, the image is a bit blurry and not crystal clear. 

A real Jordan sticker is smooth and shiny on the back.  Here’s a look at an authentic back.

The cards often have stains from gum residue left by gum included in the packs.  (Side note: Nylon or dryer sheets can help remove any wax stains on the backs of the cards.  Cards with a stain that can’t be removed will earn an ‘ST’ (stained) qualifier from PSA. 

The commonality of staining on the stickers, however, is important for identifying a fake Jordan Fleer sticker. 

If you have one you’re unsure about, if it has any gum residue/staining, it is very likely an authentic card. 

Michael Jordan 1986-87 Fleer Rookie RC Sticker SGC 6 EX/NM

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1986 FLEER Basketball wax pack NBA Randomly Picked Clean CORNERS And Color

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BGS Authentic REVERSE ERROR Michael Jordan 1986 Fleer Sticker Rookie #8 RC

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1986-87 Fleer - Stickers Michael Jordan #8 (RC)

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The 1986 Fleer stickers are also notorious for poor centering and cut issues. Stickers will vary in size; some came from the factory a bit shorter than others, so if you match up a sticker to another and it seems smaller, it’s not always a guarantee that it has been trimmed.  Jabbar’s sticker card is known to be a bit short on the sides because it’s the first one on the sheet.  

Many Fake Jordan Stickers Have Darker Colors On Back

The good thing about authenticating a Jordan Fleer sticker is that most fakes are fairly easy to identify and are not as good as the #57 Jordan card from the Fleer set. One of the most noticeable differences is the colors on the front of the card.

Based on some fakes I’ve observed, the yellow nameplate on the left side of the card is typically a darker shade of yellow. 

This is probably the best fake Jordan I’ve come across. The front is really hard to distinguish from the real card unless you use a loupe to examine the borders and text, which would show a fuzziness not evident in authentic Jordan Fleer stickers.

However the back helps piece together the puzzle. The one clear difference is the darker, more maroon-like red on the fake card versus the authentic sticker. Of note as well, take a loupe and examine the edges of the card to confirm that it is a sticker. This fake is actually just printed on heavy paper and is not actually a sticker.

Different Yellow in Jordan’s Nameplate

Not all fakes, but some of the really bad counterfeits have a different color yellow nameplate on the front of the card.  This can be a 100% confirmation that the card is a fake.  See below:

MICHAEL JORDAN 1986/87 FLEER #57 RC ROOKIE CARD CHICAGO BULLS SP BGS 8.5 NM-MT+

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1986 FLEER Basketball wax pack NBA Randomly Picked Clean CORNERS And Color

$749.99   Buy It on eBay for only: $749.99 Buy It Now on eBay

Michael Jordan Chicago Bulls 1986-87 Fleer #57 PSA Authenticated 5 Rookie Card

$8,499.99   Buy It on eBay for only: $8,499.99 Buy It Now on eBay

1986-87 Fleer - Michael Jordan #57 (RC) SGC 8.5 Centered, Flawless Corners.

$23,000.00   Buy It on eBay for only: $23,000.00 Buy It Now on eBay

1986 Fleer Michael Jordan #57 BGS 6.5 Rookie

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Texture Of The Back Of The Card

Note that, as previously stated, the stickers from the 1986 Fleer set have a smooth, sort of glossy feel on the back; this is another important way to distinguish an authentic Jordan sticker from a fake.  

It’s hard to show in pictures, but you can sort of see the difference between the back of the sticker card and a card from the base set below.  If you ran your finger over the sticker back, it would feel smooth, sort of like many modern Topps/Chrome issues.  The regular #57 Jordan has a rougher feel, and it’s because the sticker card is what it is -a sticker!   Thus, if the card in question doesn’t have that smooth sort of texture, it’s a fake.

Different Color Fonts On Back Of Card

Some fakes I’ve found on eBay were actually graded by some very questionable, defunct grading companies–however, with the notation that the card was indeed a reprint.  Here’s one I discovered recently.  The front might fool many collectors, though I would point to the image’s clarity as the first thing I noticed. 

However, the back of the card is a bit more telling

You’ll notice that the text on the fake card has a darker, sort of navy blue, whereas the real card’s text is a regular sort of blue.  The lack of boldness in many other areas of the print on the fake card is another sign of counterfeiting. In addition, the bottom red section of the fake card has a fainter, almost pink background color. Note that many of these discoveries could easily be identified with a loupe.  

So, suggestion… buy yourself a few fake Jordan stickers on eBay (shouldn’t spend more than $5 a piece).  Buy yourself a loupe (note: I really like the ones that clip on to your phone). And then buy yourself a really beat-up, cheap, authentic common sticker from the set.  

Examine the colors of each, examine the borders, and see how they compare.  

Before long, you’ll be writing for All Vintage Cards!

Have a question about a Jordan sticker?  Want to share your authentication findings? 

Shoot me an email at ***@*************ds.com” target=”_blank” rel=”noopener”>ch***@*************ds.com.  

I’m learning every day still; there are always new fakes coming to market, and I want to see them all!