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(LOT 482)
1952 Topps Near-Complete "Basic Set" w/397 PSA Graded Subjects (98% Complete) & an Outstanding 6.76 Weighted G.P.A (Minus 10 Cards - 9 of which are Lots 5, 474-481) – Includes Numerous Cards from the Iconic Mr. Mint 1952 Topps Find!
Presented here is a spectacular 397-card 1952 Topps near "Basic-Set" (98% complete) that reflects a lofty 6.76 Weighted G.P.A and an SMR value of over $92,000! One of Dr. Newman's most prized collectibles, he was exceptionally proud of his almost complete 407 card compilation, for which we have "pulled" the nine most formidable cards from set, selling them as separate lots in this auction (Mickey Mantle, Jackie Robinson, Roy Campanella, Leo Durocher, Eddie Mathews, Willie Mays, Yogi Berra, Early Wynn & Billy Martin). Of significant note, numerous cards in this extraordinary near-set were purchased from Mr. Mint directly after his iconic "1952 Topps Find" that arguably unearthed the most breathtaking '52 Topps cards on the planet. The landmark 1952 Topps baseball card issue surely needs no introduction, for it forever revolutionized the post-WWII baseball card market via their extremely artistic designs and large format sized cards.

Immensely popular to American boys growing up with the dream of emulating their diamond heroes, what the 1952 Topps production effectively accomplished was captivate a myriad of aspiring young kids, with the company's unparalleled success recently celebrating its 69th birthday. True, earlier post-war issues such as Bowman had realized some achievement, but the renowned triumph of the Topps Chewing Gum Company would eventually lead to the demise of the Bowman manufacturer at the end of the 1955 campaign. Innovative to say the least, the 1952 Topps set included inaugural team color logos, oversized perimeter dimensions, and career statistics. Of similar significance was their extraordinary extensive checklist that included 26 of our National Pastime's HOF immortals (of which 17 are included in this near-set offering). Also separating this set from its inferior peers was the momentous emphasis on the exalted high number series (96 highly coveted cards - checklist #'s 311-407, missing just #332), with their illustrious standing solely due to Sy Berger's renowned decision to dump "truckloads" of excess 1952 Topps "high-number" vending cases into the Atlantic's murky waters off the coast of New Jersey. Indeed, had it not been for Berger's legendary action, the incredible mystique of the '52 Topps Mantle and his other prestigious "high-number" peers (e.g., Robinson and Mathews) might have never been born.

This 397-subject offering is a sheer testament to the meticulous collecting philosophy of the esteemed Dr. Newman who obviously "cherry-picked" virtually all of these magnificent subjects. An outstanding near "Basic-Set", the first 80 cards are all "Red Back" variations, with 90 of the total 96 revered "high-number" subjects included in this illustrious offering, of which 44 are assessed "7" or higher (1 – PSA 8.5; 14 – PSA 8's; 1 – PSA 7.5 and 28 – PSA 7's). Imposing to say the least, 256 of the 397 cards (64%) reveal a PSA NM 7 or better grade, and a staggering 371 subjects (93%) reflect a minimum EX/MT 6 assessment. The breakdown of all the grades are as follows: 1 PSA Mint 9; 2 PSA NM/MT+ 8.5's; 105 PSA NM/MT 8's; 15 PSA NM+ 7.5's; 133 PSA NM 7's; 3 PSA EX/MT+ 6's; 112 PSA EX/MT 6's; 2 PSA EX+ 5.5's; 23 PSA EX 5's; and a single PSA VG/EX+ 4.5.

If that doesn't wet your appetite enough, consider the following low "Higher Pop" information for 18 subjects: 1 card (None Graded Higher – PSA 9 HOFer Richie Ashburn); 4 Cards (Only 1 Graded Higher – Includes a PSA 8 HOFer Robin Roberts); 3 cards (Only 2 Graded Higher); 10 cards (Only 3 Graded Higher). Although the prior years' Bowman sets (1948 thru 1951) produced most of the rookie cards for the players included in the 1952 Topps set, the '52 Topps Dick Williams and Hoyt Wilhelm (both HOF subjects) actually represent their "True Rookies". As previously stated, this grand offering includes the following 17 Cooperstown Inductees and their respective grades: #11/Rizzuto (PSA 7); #26/Irvin (PSA 8); #33/Spahn (PSA 8); #37/Snider (PSA 7.5); #59/Roberts (PSA 8); #65/Slaughter (PSA 8); #88/Feller (PSA 8); #91/Schoendienst (PSA 8); #129/Mize (PSA 8); #216/Ashburn (PSA 9); #243/Doby (PSA 8); #268/Lemon (PSA 8); #333/Reese (PSA 7); #392/Wilhelm (PSA 7); #394/B. Herman (PSA 7); #396/D. Williams (PSA 5); #400/Dickey (PSA 7)

Indeed, this magnificent gathering resides as a colossal "first step" for amassing a complete 407-card '52 Topps set, with its 397 PSA encapsulated examples accounting for 98% of the entire basic-set checklist. It is no secret that the 1952 Topps issue stands tall as the post-WWII "Holy Grail" compilation, led by the iconic #311 Mickey Mantle subject that will forever shine forth as an unparalleled beacon of light for our illustrious hobby. Needless to say, the awe-inspiring 1952 Topps subjects will forever live in the hearts and minds of passionate hobbyists, with collectors perpetually pursuing a complete checklist to stand as a cornerstone of the Topps Bubble Gum Company's storied past.

MIN BID $20,000

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