Search

Graded EX-MT 6 by PSA (submitted by REA). Extremely attractive, crisp, clean, high-grade example of 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle. One of card collecting's greatest classics, Mantle's Topps rookie card is the key to the 1952 Topps set, one of the most famous of all cards, and the single most popular and valuable postwar baseball card. This example has a remarkable history! It has been in our consignor's collection since 1972, when he obtained it in a trade for a low-grade 1933 Goudey Babe Ruth and Lou Gehrig along with a tough 1934-1936 Diamond Stars high number. In exchange he received this Mantle and a Bob Borkowski high number. Our consignor recalls that he kept the card raw in his stack of high numbers until the early 1980s when he discovered, and began using, plastic holders. It is a miracle that this card survived in such phenomenal condition! This is a magnificent example with brilliant colors and a bold blue background. The corners are strong and sharp, each with only the slightest touch of wear. The centering is superb, with an ever-so-slight characteristic tilt to the image, which is exceptional for this card as it is so often found severely off-center side to side. The reverse, centered just slightly to the left, is boldly printed with crisp red and black colors. The 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle has long been universally recognized as one of most iconic "blue chips" of all vintage baseball cards, and even just a glance at sales records clearly shows that over the years it has consistently risen in value in all grades. The market for 1952 Topps #311 Mantles in general appears be on an upward swing - especially for extremely high-quality examples. Recently, ultra-high-grade examples have soared to new levels, with a February 2017 sale of $660,000 reported for a PSA NM-MT 8 and $227,050 for a PSA NM 7 example in November 2015. This 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle presents a particularly significant collecting and investing opportunity as it is such a strong and attractive example in a particularly desirable grade! This is a spectacularly bright, fresh, and clean example of Mickey Mantle's most celebrated card. Reserve $25,000. Estimate (open).