This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/1/2022
A 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card, regardless of condition, was never an issue that was accessible in mid to upper-grade to the average hobby. And over the past few decades, the coveted issue has done nothing but make a steady, sometimes exponential, march upward in terms of value. Now we're at the point that even a low grade, heavily beaten-down example with little eye appeal will set you back the cost of a luxury sports car. The featured card provides a wonderful alternative for any collector with an eye for the better things in the hobby but not quite the bank account to match. One look at this SGC AUTHENTIC example and you probably assume it's been severely compromised around the perimeter. Nope. That aspect of the card is just fine, and with its outstanding centering and clean surfaces, the card displays all of the characteristics of a PSA 7 example valued well over a quarter-million dollars. But as the flip says, the card has surface ink; it's been recolored. And if you weren't informed of that, you'd likely never notice; you might be looking at the surface right now trying to find the colorization and aren't completely sure where it is, it's that well done. It's right above Mickey's hands to the right of his neck, a few small areas of the surface that have been well matched to the existing aqua-blue backdrop. It's a very inoffensive alteration to the eye-appeal of the card, but nevertheless, it is there and the AUTHENTIC grade is required. If you've always wanted a 1952 Topps Mantle that looks like a world-class specimen but can have it at a much more reasonable cost because of an expertly executed alteration, there may be no better example in existence than this sharp beauty!