(LOT 7)
1955 Bowman #202 Mickey Mantle 2018 National Break PSA 9 MINT

Finding a PSA "Mint 9" 1955 Bowman Mantle specimen just might be tougher than "finding a needle in a haystack!" Indeed, the legendary phrase certainly applies to this remarkable offering that has only been joined by seven other copies at the hallowed "Mint 9" level with a paltry 3 examples graded higher. Imagine, of the 3,800+ PSA encapsulated copies, only a microscopic 0.2% have been fortunate enough to achieve a MINT assessment. When considering the composition of the 1955 Bowman cards, this should come as no surprise due to the ultra-condition sensitivity of the wood-grain borders that revealed any diminutive flaw, whatsoever, to the naked eye. Similar to the 1962 and 1971 Topps issues, attaining near-perfect 1955 Bowman subjects is an excruciatingly task, with only 1% of ALL the set's subjects rewarded with the near-impossible "Mint 9" grade. The rising prices of high-grade Mantle cards asserted themselves in ultra-strong fashion in Memory Lane's July Dr. Newman auction, with a similar PSA Mint 9 '55 Bowman Mantle fetching a record-setting $210K! Interestingly enough, as is the case with virtually all 1950s & '60s issues,

it is the Mickey Mantle subject that stands tall among the rest. It is no secret that "The Mick" dominates the post-WWII card market, with most of his high-grade cardboard keepsakes now achieving stratospheric price tags. Elite collectors truly realize that a "Mint" 1955 Bowman specimen likewise falls into this category of Mantle cards that know no boundaries with respect to value, and we cannot imagine a finer example to capture. Mantle's classic batting pose depicts near-perfect resolution and contrast, and its near-perfect centered image only reveals the slightest hint of favoritism towards the right edge. Just as impressive is the lack of any surface loss within the TV-like frame/borders that is highly popular with avid enthusiasts. Sparkling colors, pinpoint corners, a super gleaming obverse side surface are all additional world-class attributes complimenting the grade. Yet, as most hobbyists realize, it is the virtually blemish-free wood-grain borders and fine centering that elevate this card's stature to a pinnacle level. The Mickey Mantle baseball card craze continues to surge ahead at a seemingly infinite level, and we cannot imagine a more rewarding accomplishment than to meet the daunting challenge of capturing this extremely "rare for the grade" 1955 Bowman gem that has already breached the $200K mark in our previous auction!

MIN BID $25,000
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