(LOT 72)
1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle Rookie Card (BVG 8) - "1 of 2" BVG 8's - Only a Sole BVG Copy Graded Higher!
The 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle #253 subject irrefutably stands as his "true" rookie card, and while significantly undervalued for many years, its pricing points are finally realizing astonishing up-ticks. Several PSA 8 specimens had already reached the $100K mark, and then recently, another PSA 8 achieved the extraordinary sum of $137K! With that in mind, offered here is a sensational BVG 8 Mickey Mantle rookie card that is one of only 2 BVG examples at this stratospheric plateau with only a SOLE BVG specimen (an 8.5) graded higher! Imagine, of the nearly 200 encapsulated Beckett copies, only a single example has managed to best this world-class marvel. Furthermore, the PSA population report reveals nearly 1,700 encapsulated specimens of which only 10 or 0.6% have achieved a higher grade. No one would argue that the 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card resides as the post-WWII's most iconic card, yet it is Mantle's 1951 Bowman rookie that is beginning to gain its rightful stature.

After the majestic Babe Ruth inaugural card, the 1951 Bowman Mantle rookie arguably suffices as the most coveted rookie card in the entire collecting community, eternally residing as one of the hobby's pinnacle "world class" cardboard artifacts. The seemingly infinite rise of Mantle's sanctified 1952 Topps subject has likewise propelled the desirability and value of his inaugural 1951 Bowman issue, with each high-grade sale producing record setting prices. However the Mantle mystique was established, no one will argue that Mantle's 1951 Bowman image will forever be embedded in hobby lore. "The Mick's" incredible power, long tape measure home runs and overall love for the game and fans add to the legacy of all his cardboard treasures. He was Goliath, Davey Crockett, John Wayne and Joe DiMaggio all rolled up into one super icon, the ultimate embodiment of a National hero.

With that in mind, what card could better represent the strength of our hobby than Mickey Mantle's inaugural cardboard issue, treasured by every young boy who grew up worshiping the "Commerce Comet" dominate the game via his mammoth sized round trippers. The seemingly timeless "bat over shoulder" lithographic pose with Mickey's #6 (vs. his famous #7) partly showing on his uniform was taken from a classic original black & white photograph from Mantle's rookie season. Virtually all of the qualities associated with this legendary picture are pristine including vibrant gray/blue colored hues, immaculate contrast/resolution and a flawless sky blue background. The relatively well-centered image reflects approximate 60/40 "right to left" and "top to bottom" positioning between bright white borders; a critical positive attribute since most examples reflect extremely skewed illustrations.

A fine perimeter boasts three sharp edges, a roughly cut upper edge and four right-angled corners consistent with the elevated grade. The final exclamation points is the glistening obverse side surface and the super clean verso that atypically has eluded the standard gum stains evident on many of these subjects. To reiterate, the "true" Mickey Mantle rookie card holds a place in the hobby that is surpassed by only a handful of cards, with the mere sight of this classic gem in high-grade condition arousing any esteemed collector's interest. Along with the 1952 Topps Mantle that continues to soar in value, this offering is likewise realizing lofty price tags that have now considerably surpassed the magical $100K level. Yet considering it resides as Mantle's unquestionable inaugural card, it still remains significantly undervalued as opposed to its 1952 Topps brethren, with a seemingly infinite amount of potential growth yet to be realized for this timeless cardboard treasure!

MIN BID $7,500
_