(LOT 88)
Super Scarce 1953 Topps Baseball 5-Cent Wax Pack – GAI 5 EX – Pack Potentially Includes Jackie Robinson, Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays or Satchel Paige
RARE '53 TOPPS WAX PACK!!!... Fresh off the heels of their landmark 1952 Topps set, for 1953, the illustrious Topps Chewing Gum Company followed up their revolutionary '52 mainstream issue with a likewise superstar compilation. The 1953 Topps set includes 274 cards, commencing with the incomparable Jackie Robinson as their #1 subject. Additional superstars include the iconic Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, Roy Campanella, Yogi Berra, Eddie Mathews, Bob Feller, Pee Wee Reese and the immortal Satchel Paige (to mention just a few), with the great Ted Williams excluded from the set since he was overseas in Korea shooting down enemy aircraft. Ultra-popular with collectors, the player images portray artistic lithographic designs, with a majority being portrait illustrations. Their large-size formats are consistent with the previous 1952 Topps cards, measuring exactly the same size (2-5/8" x 3-3/4") as their '52 predecessors. After the renowned 1952 Topps issue a year earlier, America's young baseball card/bubble gum enthusiasts were  engrossed with the concept of compiling their favorite star's pictures on cardboard keepsakes, and continued ransacking local candy stores to purchase as many '53 wax packs as they could possibly afford.

The baseball card craze was in full gear, with both the Topps and Bowman Gum Companies paving the way for this captivating hobby. That said, presented here is a super scarce 1953 Topps 5-Cent wax pack that has been graded a formidable GAI 5, proudly residing as one of the most sought-after unopened wax packs by advanced collectors. As a point of reference, PSA's population report only lists a meager nine packs (only five of those designated as 5-Cent versions), with a mere three examples graded higher than this 5 EX marvel (GAI population numbers are not available). Rarely surfacing in any grade, its contents could possibly include legendary immaculate cards such as Mantle, Robinson, Paige and Mays. Yet, as most wax pack collectors realize, its current stature as being professionally encapsulated by GAI holds more weight in the hobby. Further enhancing its popularity is the possibility of it being from the renowned "Tennessee Wax Pack Find", with many of those packs revealing some level of soiling/water damage that has eluded a majority of this particular offering.

Assessed a desirable 5 EX by the Global Authentication Inc. wax pack grading company, the wrapper exhibits many of its original qualities including super bold blue and red colors, with the enthralling baseball line drawing including the following verbiage: "TOPPS BASEBALL PICTURES." Additional captions read as follows: "PLUS 3/8 OZ. BUBBLE GUM and 5-Cents", with the flip side depicting various advertisement captions for BAZOOKA BUBBLE GUM. Preventing a higher grade appears to be some level of modest wear along the corner wrappings as well as some scattered toning on both sides. Most significantly, the pack's original factory issued glued seals are completely intact, a critical feature leading to its status as an unquestionable unopened wax pack. While a 1953 Topps wax pack doesn't carry the same prestige of Topps' prior '52 offering, it certainly resides as a much scarcer artifact, with the number of known '52 Topps brethren representing more than double the '53 count. Less than a year ago, a similar 5 EX 1953 Topps 5-cent wax pack sold for $66K in a public auction, more than substantiating its world-class stature. Since then, the unopened wax market has increased exponentially, and with that in mind, we will let the sophisticated collector ultimately decide what this exalted marvel is truly worth!

MIN BID $10,000
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