(LOT 10)
1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle Rookie SGC 6 EX-MT
The sudden rise to stardom for the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle 's commenced in the late 80's/early 90's, ably assisting the overall card market via its incredible pricing points that redefined one's perspective for utilizing cardboard heirlooms as viable investment options. Before 2013, price tags for the 1952 Topps Mantle subject had remained relatively "flat", and while not diminishing in value, its pricing points had moved somewhat "sideways". Typical with any market commodity, the investment values of valuable baseball cards likewise run in cycles, and the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card, the most popular post-WWII baseball card, is now experiencing an historic pricing surge we have never seen. The recent private sale of a PSA Mint 9 example for a record setting $5.2 million for ANY sports card translates to a staggering 79% or $2.3 million increase in only 2 years over its previous $2.9 million public auction sale.

Indeed, that momentous $5.2 million transaction has immediately sparked a seemingly irreversible pricing uptick for the 1952 Topps Mantle in any grade. That notion is firmly substantiated by recent mind-boggling sales of $1.6 million for a PSA NM/MT 8 and $146K for a PSA EX/5. The "PSA 8" $1.6 million figure outdistanced its previous $0.6 million high by an incomprehensible 167%, and the $146K final bid for the PSA 5 more than doubled the typical $50-$60K price tags we were accustomed to seeing within the auction circuit. No wonder the '52 Topps Mantle has been dubbed the post-WWII "Holy Grail", and with virtually no end in sight for this pricing phenomenon that has taken the hobby by storm. Indeed, the record books certainly appear to be re-written each passing month (in some cases weeks!), with a newly posted mind-boggling sale setting the benchmark at another stratospheric plateau.

This pricing escalation has spread across all grade levels with some "Poor 1" 1952 Topps Mantle's now amazingly realizing pricing points approaching $30K. While these miraculous pricing up-ticks are "jaw-dropping" to say the least, it was only a matter of time before this iconic baseball card achieved an "infinite-like" pricing surge. The aforementioned sale of a PSA 5 for $146K has certainly set the stage for this spectacular SGC EX/MT 6 '52 Topps Mantle offering that portrays an absolutely brilliant central image. The breathtaking aesthetics are the perfect testament for the "Commerce Comet's remarkable career, with the classic "bat over shoulder" illustration reflecting a stellar aqua-marine blue background that atypically reveals virtually no "snow". Even more significant is the fine centering (approximately 55/45 "left to right") that only exhibits an extremely minor "tilt" towards the upper right corner, and it is no secret amongst meticulous collectors of the excruciating chore for locating a well-centered 1952 Topps Mantle.

Outstanding resolution, brilliant facial hues, a glistening obverse side surface, relatively clean surfaces, snow white borders, and corners that border on "near-mint" right-angle quality all point towards a card that borders on meriting a near-mint assessment. The only peripheral attribute possibly impacting the grade is the verso's centering that overwhelmingly favors the left edge, with most hobbyists negating a majority of negligible flipside flaws. While we do not know with 100% certainly how the flipside impacted the overall grade, we are completely confident that this museum worthy offering's sparkling eye appeal and highly coveted "EX/MT 6" assessment combine to earn its fortunate new owner esteemed bragging rights for years to come. "The Mick" redefined the confines of every ballpark via his mammoth blasts that soared over the furthest fences imaginable, and ironically, the $146K recent sale for a PSA EX/5 '52 Topps Mantle has likewise redefined the pricing scale for any mid-grade example, with no apparent end in sight for this momentous pricing uptick!

MIN BID $25,000
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