1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle Rookie Card – BVG NM-MT 8

1952 Topps #311 Mickey Mantle Rookie Card – BVG NM-MT 8

Graded NM-MT 8 by BVG. Hall of Famer, in his most revered Rookie Card appearance. There will never be enough "NM-MT 8" 1952 Topps Mantles in the hobby to satisfy collector demand for what is arguably the most desirable baseball card ever made. These special pieces have generally found solid, impenetrable homes, where bragging rights are more important than dollars. Few individuals are ever willing to part with an item that defines an enthusiast's status in the hobby. The 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle has always been a key card in any collection. Even during the mid-1960's, at the very beginning of the organized hobby, the '52 Mantle card carried a premium when star cards from other prominent sets (like Cobb and Ruth!) cost the same as a common. Actually, the word "common" wasn't even used at that time – the concept giving rise to the word did not yet exist. Cards from a specific set were all "common" or they were all "rare." The high number series from 1952 Topps was solidly in the latter category, even then, and a serious proposition when pondering additions to a collection. Many collectors stopped at number 310 and moved on to the next project.

As the hobby grew, and time passed, more and more cards emerged from attics and basements. Vintage cards, even '52 Topps high numbers, are now more readily available, and any collector with deep pockets can complete the set. Now, the challenge is condition. Building a Near Mint to Mint set of 1952 Topps is a mission for a lifetime. The location of a suitable Mantle is the pivotal issue in such a quest, and a singularly satisfying example is presented here. The offered card will immediately assume its place as the cornerstone of the winning bidder's collection. After this, all future acquisitions will be likely to pale in comparison. This outstanding card delivers preservation quality to match its mystique. Its corners form precise right angles, and only a faint trace of wear at the upper right likely kept this piece from an even more favorable grading assessment. A virtually flawless, glistening surface announces the card's presence to the eyes. Deep, rich portrait colors blaze against an intense and lustrous azure background. The image boasts near-perfect registration, and the black-line frame containing it is magnificently well-centered. The card's reverse is well aligned. Here, we see one of the most impressive and valuable individual pieces in our entire hobby. This is an extremely high-end example, with tremendous visual appeal. Strong Near Mint to Mint condition.