Search

1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle Rookie PSA EX-MT+ 6.5

Sold For: $11,258
Year: 1951
Auction: 2013 Spring
Lot #: 546
Auction Category: Postwar Baseball - 1950s Cards

Graded EX-MT+ 6.5 by PSA. Stunning (and very conservatively graded) high-grade example of Mickey Mantle's true rookie card. One of card collecting's greatest classics, Mantle's Bowman rookie card is the key to the 1951 Bowman set, and one of the most popular and significant of all postwar baseball cards. This card is one of the highlights from an original-owner collection, carefully saved and maintained since the year of issue. This extremely striking example has four sharp corners with only the slightest hint of wear visible under magnification, vibrant colors, and is centered approximately 40/60 T/B and L/R. Clean front and back, with no distracting print lines as are so commonly found with this card. The back is also perfectly clean, with no wax wrapper or gum stains, which are also often a problem with 1951 Bowmans. The barely detectable and not particularly distracting hint of a red outline on the top of Mantle's cap and bat is due to a very minor printing registration issue, often seen on this card, and is mentioned strictly for the sake of accuracy. This is a magnificent high-grade example of one of collecting's most famous cards, and would be a worthy cornerstone to either a high-grade 1950s Mantle card collection or any world-class collection of classic baseball cards. The SMR does not provide a value for the EX-MT+ 6.5 grade. The SMR value for a PSA EX-MT 6 is $5,250 and the SMR value for a PSA NM 7 is $9,000. Reserve $2,000. Estimate $4,000+. SOLD FOR $11,257.50