Lot # 32: 1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle Rookie Card PSA 6 EX-MT – Super Scarce NEAR PERFECT CENTERING!

Category: 1950-1959

Starting Bid: $17,500.00

Bids: 24 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed
Lot / Auction Closed




This lot is closed. Bidding is not allowed.

Item was in Auction "Fall Rarities Auction 2021",
which ran from 9/25/2021 12:00 PM to
10/9/2021 7:00 PM




(LOT 32)
1951 Bowman #253 Mickey Mantle Rookie Card PSA 6 EX-MT – Super Scarce NEAR PERFECT CENTERING!

Along with the majestic Babe Ruth inaugural issue, the 1951 Bowman Mantle rookie arguably suffices as the most coveted rookie card in the collecting community. 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. With that in mind, presented here is an outstanding "EX-MT 6" example of the iconic Mickey Mantle rookie card that exhibits aesthetics beyond the grade, highlighted by the near-impossible to find near-perfect centering! Incredibly, a PSA 8 Mickey Mantle 1951 Bowman card achieved a staggering $612K price tag earlier this year, igniting a spiraling uptick for all graded subjects. Considering the ongoing pricing spikes for both "The Mick's" '51 Bowman and '52 Topps issues, the current sale prices may soon become "wholesale" figures. However the Mickey Mantle mystique was established, no one will argue that Mantle's 1951 Bowman image will forever be embedded in hobby lore. Mantle's unparalleled supernatural 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, Davy 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. The image reflects vibrant gray/blue colored tints, immaculate contrast/resolution, a bright sky-blue background, extremely rich facial hues as well as no vertical print lines that typically plague this issue. Most significantly and atypical for most of the '51 Bowman Mantle subjects, the hallowed illustration exhibits NEAR-PERFECT centering, with more than 90% of the known issues exhibiting skewed images. No obtrusive creasing is evident on either side, the surfaces are relatively clean, the verso has eluded any glaring gum stains, and this grand offering most likely fell short of a near-mint assessment due to the upper left corner's modest wear. To reiterate, the "true" Mickey Mantle rookie card holds a special place in the hobby that is surpassed by only a handful of cards, with the mere sight of any mid-grade or higher eye pleasing specimen immediately arousing the interest of any esteemed collector. Via its virtually "impossible to find" near-perfect centering, its seemingly unlimited investment potential merits it the highest accolades, proudly residing as one of the finest "EX-MT 6" examples on the planet!

MIN BID $17,500
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