An extraordinary early-career card of Muhammad Ali from the 1960 Hemmets Journal set, card #23. Issued during the formative stage of Ali’s legendary rise, before he became a global icon. This scarce hand-cut issue is one of the earliest and most historically significant collectibles of “The Greatest.”

The Hemmets Journal release is a challenging foreign issue that has gained strong recognition among advanced collectors for its rarity and importance. Produced in periodical format and intended to be hand cut, surviving examples are notoriously difficult to locate, especially in presentable graded condition. Because of the hand-cut nature of the set, well-centered and visually appealing examples are particularly desirable.

Graded SGC 4 VGEX, this example offers strong overall presentation for the issue, with solid eye appeal, clear imagery, and honest wear consistent with the assigned grade. Hand-cut cards from this era often show irregular borders or handling wear, making mid-grade examples especially scarce and collectible.

This card carries a population of just 3 at the SGC 4 level, with only 6 graded higher, underscoring its rarity within the hobby. Early Muhammad Ali cards with strong population standing continue to see increasing demand.

Further enhancing its appeal, this example has earned MBA Gold Diamond Certification and ranks within the Top 5% for eye appeal, recognizing it as a superior specimen compared with comparable graded examples. This distinction adds a premium layer of desirability for advanced collectors seeking quality beyond the label.

Muhammad Ali remains one of the most iconic athletes in world history, and his earliest cards are cornerstone pieces across boxing and sports memorabilia collecting.

A rare opportunity to acquire an early Muhammad Ali hand-cut issue with strong grade, elite eye appeal metrics, and exceptional scarcity, an outstanding addition to any advanced boxing or vintage sports collection.

MBA Gold Diamond Certification - Top 5%

Higher Grade Cards that receive a Gold Diamond Certification are determined worthy of a higher technical grade from MBA. These are truly exceptional examples within the assigned technical grade, generally representing the top 5% of the population, for that grade. A Diamond Certified trading card must achieve a 0.5 technical grade increase, or higher, to receive the Gold Diamond designation. The technical grading awarded can be viewed on the MBA report card, or found through MBA's searchable certification database. A Gold Diamond Certified trading card can be crossed into an MBA slab at the time of Diamond Certification, or at any time in the future.

You will receive the exact item(s) pictured.

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