(LOT 21)
1969 Topps #500 Mickey Mantle "Yellow Letters" (PSA Mint 9) - Only ONE Example Graded Higher!
The significance of Mickey Mantle baseball cards to the post WWII hobby collecting circuit is irrefutably equivocal to the stature of Wagner, Ruth, Jackson and Cobb artifacts to the pre-WWI vintage market, with any cardboard gem of the great Yankee centerfielder typically held in the highest esteem. Mantle personified the acceleration of the cardboard industry in the 1980's, and ever since, every cardboard representation of him is taken very seriously, especially when it resides as high-grade rarity. Such is the case for this "scarce for the grade" PSA Mint 9 "Yellow Letters" offering that has only been bested by a SINGLE PSA Gem Mint 10 specimen!
Indeed, that is correct because of the nearly 5,500 PSA encapsulated "Yellow Letter" examples, only a SINGLE copy has managed to receive the perfect technical assessment. The "Mick's classic left-handed batting pose is virtually pristine, portraying superb contrast and crystal clear clarity. Normally for this subject, even high-grade issues are somewhat off-center, but this immaculate offering's central image depicts near-perfect centering, only reflecting the slightest hint of favoritism towards the lower edge that is barely visible to the naked eye. Even more impressive is the fact that the iconic illustration atypically reveals virtually no "tilt", with most 1969 subjects' images portraying some level of tilt towards the right or left edges.
Pinpoint corners, razor sharp edging, flawless obverse/reverse side surfaces and vivid typography are the final intricacies that have earned this card its rightful assessment. No baseball player is hotter right now in the card market than Mickey Mantle, with his high-grade subjects achieving a staggering number of world-record prices. This should more than encourage the sophisticated collector to seize this seldom surfacing "pack-fresh" gem before its pricing points continue soaring to an unattainable level!
MIN BID $2,000
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