1952 Topps Baseball Super Set of (579) PSA Graded Cards Including (29) Uncatalogued Variations with a Second Mickey Mantle Rookie Card

• Sold For: $177,750
• Year: 1952
• Auction: 2013 August
• Lot #: 1
• Auction Category: Postwar Baseball - 1950s Cards

The Most Complete 1952 Topps Baseball Set in Existence! Ushering in the modern hobby, the 1952 Topps Baseball issue broke new ground by introducing “giant sized” trading cards, an expansive 407-card checklist along with additional design innovations to an enthusiastic collecting public. Having supplanted rival Bowman for supremacy, the Brooklyn-based company won the hearts and dollars of their youthful audience. With a remarkable Hall of Fame rookie cast, established legends, tough high numbers and scores of variations, many have made pursuing a complete 1952 Topps Baseball set a lifelong pursuit. What constitutes a Super Set? Much like other beloved series such as the 1909-11 T206 White Borders, the 1952 Topps edition offers many tiers of collectability. Most hobbyists are content with a complete series of (407) cards. A handful of others have completed a master set of (490) cards including both color backed variations for the first series along with the addition of the recognized Page, Sain and Campos rarities. Even fewer have achieved the completion of a "Super Set" which is bolstered by the scarce (60) #131-190 Canadian gray back variations. With both a Weighted GPA and Set Rating of 6.36, good for third place on the competitive PSA Registry, the offered 1952 Topps Baseball Super Set of (550) cards plus (29) uncatalogued variations including a second Mickey Mantle rookie card is the only confirmed offering in the industry that is 100% complete. With the prospect of any of the (29) color/printing variants being eventually recognized by the grading service, this masterpiece will afford the winning bidder the opportunity to secure a truly comprehensive super set without the daunting task of chasing further additions to the checklist. The overall condition breakdown for all (579) PSA graded cards is as follows: (5) PSA 9 (four qualifiers), (5) PSA 8.5, (80) PSA 8 (24 qualifiers), (30) PSA 7.5, (219) PSA 7 (five qualifiers), (18) PSA 6.5, (133) PSA 6 (two qualifiers), (2) PSA 5.5, (40) PSA 5 (one qualifier), (3) PSA 4.5, (24) PSA 4, (11) PSA 3, (1) PSA 2.5, (2) PSA 2, (1) PSA 1.5, (5) PSA 1 (one qualifier). Highlights include: #1-80 Black Low Numbers: (91 cards, includes both catalogued and nine uncatalogued variations) with (6) PSA 8: (two qualifiers) with #26 Irvin (Brown Background; (30) PSA 7: (one qualifier) with #11 Rizzuto (only 8 better), #36 Hodges, #37 Snider; (32) PSA 6: #49 Sain (Page Bio); (7) PSA 5: #1 Pafko, #48 Page, (Sain Bio); #1-80 Red Low Numbers: (83 cards, includes three uncatalogued variations) with (1) PSA 8.5: #14 (only two better); (11) PSA 8: (five qualifiers) with #67 Reynolds; (25) PSA 7: (one qualifier) with #11 Rizzuto, #33 Spahn, #65 Slaughter; (23) PSA 6: #1 Pafko; #81-310 Backs: (244 cards, includes one catalogued, 13 uncatalogued variations) with (3) PSA 9: (all qualifiers) with #88 Feller (oc, Clear Stats in Background); (4) PSA 8.5: #184, 265, 284, 289; (43) PSA 8: (eleven qualifiers) with #129 Mize (only three better), #195 Minoso (only eight better), #200 Houk (only 6 better), #250 Erskine (only two better); (13) PSA 7.5: #268 Lemon; (127) PSA 7: #88 Feller (Fuzzy Stats in Background), #175 B. Martin RC, #216 Ashburn, #261 Mays; (40) PSA 6: #191 Berra; (5) PSA 5: #307 Campos (Partial Black Star on Back); (2) PSA 4: #307 Campos (Black Star on Back); (1) PSA 1: #307 Campos (Border Break, Top Left); #131-190 Canadian Backs: (60 cards, several with none better, most have single digit total populations) with (1) PSA 8: #183 (none higher); (1) PSA 7.5: #177 (none higher); (4) PSA 7: (two qualifiers, all none higher, unless noted) with 138, 139 (oc), 145, 146 (oc, one better); #311-407 High Numbers: (101 cards, includes four uncatalogued variations) with (2) PSA 9: (one qualifier) with #355 Morgan (oc), #364 Sukeforth (only one better); (19) PSA 8: (six qualifiers) with #312 J. Robinson (Stitches Left), #313 Thomson (Stitches Right, only 8 better), #342 Labine (only 8 better), #364 Lavagetto (only seven better); (7) PSA 7.5: #312 Black, #373 Turner, #394 Herman; (33) PSA 7: (one qualifier) with #311 Mantle RC (Stitches Left), #313 Thomson (Stitches Left), #392 Wilhelm RC, #396 Di. Williams RC, #400 Dickey; (26) PSA 6: (one qualifier) with #311 Mantle RC (mc, Stitches Right), #314 Campanella (Partial “R” in Major on Reverse), #407 Mathews RC; (3) PSA 4: #312 J. Robinson (Stitches Right) and (1) PSA 3: #314 Campanella. For display quality and preservation purposes, this set is stored in two custom made Pennzoni wood display boxes. To access a complete list of all base cards, variations and their respective grades including notes for low pop cards, please follow the link to the spreadsheet provided on our website. CLICK HERE FOR COMPLETE LIST OF THE CARDS IN THIS LOT