This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/19/2016
Vintage baseball cards, particularly high-grade rookie cards of Hall of Famers, have seen an explosion in prices realized over the past 18 months, and there's no sign of that trend slowing down. The one exception, not a true "rookie card" and enjoying the boom market in all grades as it is still considered the premier pasteboard of the hobby, is the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card. We've seen high-grade '52 Mantles skyrocket to unprecedented levels with PSA 8 examples touching the half million dollar mark, leading to speculation that one of the three registered PSA 10 examples, or perhaps even a PSA 9 MINT example if offered first, will eclipse the all-time record price for a single baseball card. The offered card is graded PSA 4, still within reach for many collectors as of now but quickly pushing past the point of affordability for all but the most well-financed aficionados. A very minor surface wrinkle on the back, near the word "MAJOR" in red text, does not extend into the front surface, which shows no wrinkles or creases whatsoever. The central image, other than the positioning within the border, is extremely pleasing with a deep aqua background that accentuates the well-delivered and universally beloved image of Mantle, recognized by all experts and virtually every novice in the baseball card collecting world. Compared to many examples in its grading tier, this is a very impressive issue that immediately elevates the status of any collection into the realm of world-class!