This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/11/2014
The current high bid for the complete set, $442,500.00, is greater than the aggregate total of the bids on the single cards that comprise this set, $356,330.00 (this lot is currently losing)
It's been such an amazing journey to be able to carefully examine, card by card, every specimen that went into the composition of one of the greatest 1952 Topps master sets ever assembled. Starting with the unbelievable offering of a card #1 Andy Pafko black back in a PSA 8, there were plenty of rare low pop specimens and high-grade superstars that would make any appreciative collector feel like a kid run amok in a candy store. But as we close out the '52 Topps set and leave the rest in the hands of the bidders, we're going out in tremendous style with a PSA 7.5 specimen of Hall of Famer Eddie Mathews. Of course, conventional wisdom within the hobby is that a PSA 7.5 is really like a PSA 7.9 and there was something almost undetectable that kept PSA from pulling the trigger on the NM/MT assessment, which tends to happen more often with high profile cards such as this. As the only PSA 7.5 on the pop report, there are no other exemplars to reveal a specific, defining trait that PSA just doesn't find agreeable, so we'll try to break down the characteristics of this beauty as definitively as possible. As you can see, the centering does favor the left side and slightly positions toward the top, which is not unusual for high number series 1952 Topps cards in general and the Eddie Mathews card specifically. However, the framing is strong enough to qualify for a NM/MT grade, especially when factoring in the clearly above-grade characteristics of the central image, delivered with outstanding registration and near perfect placement of color, evidenced by the chilling intensity of the rookie slugger's expression. The corners don't provide any tangible evidence either as each of the four endpoints, as we see it, clearly qualifies at a minimum of NM/MT. There is a small pattern of print dots in the left border near the bottom corner that is visible with a 16x loupe but cannot be seen to the naked eye. The reverse is accurately centered with great print color, completely lacking any impediments that would handicap a final evaluation. The most likely conclusion, harsh as it may seem, is that this is a NM/MT to even NM/MT+ caliber card save for the centering. Compare it to the 14 examples graded PSA 8 and more often than not, you'll feel as if you're walking away the winner!