(LOT 11)
Extraordinary 1952 Topps #312 Signed Jackie Robinson PSA 8 NM/MT AUTO Grade - One of Only 4 Known Autographed 1952 Topps Jackie Robinson Examples!
The feature card from this extraordinary autographed 1952 Topps near-set gathering is the ultra-rare #312 Jackie Robinson that has been boldly scripted by the immortal second sacker. One of the most significant "post-WWII" cards extant, the '52 Topps Jackie has always been a collector favorite, with unsigned examples skyrocketing over the past year. Indeed, two separate PSA 9 examples have approached $1 million and a PSA 8 copy realized nearly $400K. That said, those two PSA 9s that fetched nearly $1 million are one of 11 PSA encapsulated specimens, with this near-impossible to find autographed '52 Topps Jackie one of a paltry four known scripted examples! Indeed, a signed 1952 Topps Robinson is 64% scarcer than an unscripted PSA 9, with the autographed version so obscure that we cannot even unearth a single public sale. When the legendary Topps company issued their iconic 1952 Set, they seemed to save their "best for last" as the high number series commenced with the hobby's post-war "Holy Grail" #311 Mickey Mantle subject, immediately followed by the likewise exalted #312 Jackie Robinson. What else can we say about this iconic Cooperstown Inductee that hasn't already been already said? He won an MVP award, led the Dodgers to 6 pennants and a 1955 World Championship, stole bases, hit for average/power, fielded his position flawlessly and was as fiery a competitor the game has ever seen. Yet, for all of his stellar accomplishments, his solidified place in baseball history will forever be correlated with being the inaugural African American to play Major League Baseball.

Little did Branch Rickey and Jackie Robinson realize that their landmark 1947 signing would forever change America's National Pastime with this dynamic duo etched in the hearts and minds of avid baseball fans. That monumental occurrence changed not only baseball, but all of professional sports for eternity. It is with no surprise that Hall of Famer Jackie Robinson's collectibles continue to skyrocket every day, especially in lieu of the historic "42" box office smash that opened the floodgates to an already lucrative Jackie Robinson collectibles market. For all these reasons, any early cardboard artifact of the great Robinson is highly sought-after by serious enthusiasts, and this signed 1952 Topps marvel easily resides as one of Jackie's momentous cardboard heirlooms. Reflecting a stellar PSA 8 NM-MT blue ink autograph that was eloquently scripted across his chin, Robinson's classic "bat over right shoulder" pose still portrays fine aesthetics, eluding any obtrusive creasing and paper loss over the past 70 years. The handful of obverse side blemishes include scattered surface "snow", rounded corners, and the illustration favoring the upper left edges. Most notably, the verso exhibits an abundance of blue ink notations and/or scribbling, yet as most discerning autograph enthusiasts surely realize, it is the autographed front side that truly matters with many hobbyists dismissing the flipside's flaws.

Indeed, this is certainly a case where the rarity of the card supersedes the overall condition of the card with the accurate notion "try and find another one" taking full precedence. To reiterate, there are only three other known signed 1952 Topps Jackie Robinson subjects, placing this world-class offering as one of the most significant Jackie collectibles extant. At the time this was written, PSA illustrious "Pop" Chart reflected the following counts for Jackie's Unsigned '52 Topps High-Numbered keepsake: 11 PSA 9s; 44 PSA 8s and 72 PSA 7s. Considering that the 8s and 9s have realized sales between $300K - $900K+, we cannot even fathom the true value of a signed example that is one of only four known specimens, reflecting a microscopic population number versus its non-autographed peers. Needless to say, the signed card market is currently smoking hot, with iconic players such as Ruth, Cobb, Mantle and Jackie Robinson realizing record breaking price tags each and every day. A recent T202 signed Cobb fetched $300K, a Ruth #149 signed Goudey has sold for $761K and Mickey Mantle's 1951 Bowman Rookie and 1952 Topps autographed subjects have both exceeded $200K. Keeping these immense pricing points in mind, along with the fact that the utmost rarity of a signed 1952 Topps Jackie Robinson #312 subject leaves us with zero benchmark pricing, there appears to be no limit as to the potential value of this truly momentous prize. In closing, Robinson's iconic standing stems from the embodiment of courage he displayed when he joined the Brooklyn Dodgers in 1947, breaking baseball's "color-barrier" that had unjustly suppressed a myriad of talented African American ballplayers for 75+ years.

His unequivocal immortality commenced on April 10, 1947, when the Dodgers iconic General Manager Branch Rickey released this official statement to the press during the fifth inning of an exhibition game played against Jackie Robinson's Montreal Royals (the Dodgers' Minor League affiliate): "The Brooklyn Dodgers today purchased the contract of Jackie Roosevelt Robinson from the Montreal Royals." This earth-shattering news officially broke the Major League color barrier, serving as a shocking surprise to an entire baseball community and America, and immediately revolutionizing professional baseball forever. From the first day Rickey spoke of Robinson, he made it perfectly clear he was "seeking a black ballplayer with great talent and personal character" and that Jackie was his man. Indeed, the floodgates had now officially opened for previously suppressed African American ballplayers to have a "fair shake" in their quest for playing Major League Baseball. Simply stated, his legendary status extends far beyond baseball, for his unbridled bravery ultimately supported the justified notion that "all men are created equal", with his immortal stature a sheer testament for the proud foundation America was soundly built upon. It is Jackie's incomparable standing that has bolstered the sales of all his collectibles to unprecedented heights over the past several years, with this scripted 1952 Topps marvel one of his rarest offerings. The aforementioned pricing points for Jackie's Unsigned '52 Topps #312 subject clearly substantiate the notion that his 1952 Topps high-number subject stands tall alongside his '48 Leaf cardboard peer as one of his two most noteworthy issues. That said, we will let you ultimately decide the true worth of this ultra-scarce scripted '52 Topps Jackie depicting a breathtaking PSA 8 blue ink signature, with this resounding heirloom standing tall as one of the most significant signed cards on the planet!

MIN BID $20,000