Lot # 77: 1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle (PSA 2) w/EX+ Aesthetics

Category: 1950-1959

Starting Bid: $5,000.00

Bids: 22 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Holy Grail Rarities Auction",
which ran from 11/19/2018 6:15 PM to
12/15/2018 7:00 PM




(LOT 77)
1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle (PSA 2) w/EX+ Aesthetics

Eye Appeal! Eye Appeal! Indeed, that is where our illustrious hobby has surely headed towards with regard to passionate collectors and the cards they truly want in their prized collections. True, while the technical assessment will always be critical in terms of gauging a cards technical niche, more and more, hobbyists want to gaze at their collectibles and be proud of the accompanying aesthetics that make the card worth looking at. With that said, presented here just happens to be a "perfect" example relating to this "eye appeal hysteria", an absolutely brilliant 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle residing in a PSA 2 holder. Simply stated, this timeless gem emanates visual appeal in the EX to EX/MT range, with its "Good" assessment the result of a truly negligible surface abrasion on the verso.

Regarding the issue itself, the manner in which the Mickey Mantle 1952 Topps subject achieved its current mystique may never achieve full resolution, but it is surely "here to stay", with only the T206 Honus Wagner "Holy Grail" arguably surpassing "The Mick's" inaugural '52 Topps iconic stature. This cardboard marvel's sudden rise to stardom in the late 80's and early 90's ably assisted the overall market stature, with its incredible pricing points redefining one's perspective for utilizing cardboard heirlooms as viable investment options. For quite some time and 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, dubbed the post-WWII "Holy Grail", is now experiencing an amazing pricing surge for all grade levels that have re-written its overall value. Synonymous with an uncontrollable brush fire, since mid-year 2013, the Topps Mantle rookie value has risen to an unprecedented level, with mid-grade specimens now fetching 300% - 400% pricing upticks.

While these seemingly miraculous pricing spikes 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 amazing eye appeal of this PSA 2 offered specimen is synonymous with Mantle's magnificent legacy, starting with the classic bat over shoulder pose portraying a nearly un-improvable aqua-marine blue background that atypically reveals virtually no "snow", with the only exception being an extremely forgiving light blemish to the right of his left ear. Possibly the finest "Good/2" 1952 Mantle extant, you can literally feel Mickey's curious nature as he gazes into the future with a youthful innocence that would eventually lead to his immortal Yankee standing. Simply stated, the crystal-clear clarity, sparkling facial hues, gleaming front surface, relatively clean white borders, no glaring surface creases, right-angled corners reflecting "EX" strength and a clean verso all contribute to the "awe-inspiring" aesthetics.

The most critical stamp of approval is the extremely well-centered image that exhibits approximately 45/55 "top to bottom" and "left to right" centering, for enthusiasts surely know the '52 Topps Mantle typically presents itself with a skewed image. As previously stated, its only downfall is the modest paper loss on the verso that has removed the "P" in "TOPPS" near the lower edge; a flaw that is more than forgiving since it resides on the reverse side in a remote area of the card's surface perimeter. No doubt, the recent tsunami-like pricing up-ticks coupled with this offering's sensational attributes more than justify its world class standing. Had it not been for "truckloads" of 1952 Topps high-number vending cases being dumped into New York's murky waters, the incredible mystique of the '52 Topps Mantle might have never been born. Yet, the reality of this card standing tall as our hobby's post-war "Holy Grail" shines forth today similar to an unparalleled beacon, with its uncontested popularity the driver of its redefined value. With the sales of high-end eye appeal examples continuing to soar like an American Eagle, we will let you, the sophisticated enthusiast, ultimately decide the true value of this magnificent example that stands as an archetypal candidate for the card's unlimited growth potential!

MIN BID $5,000
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