Historical Hockey Memorabilia Auction Winter 2020
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 2/26/2020
The most recognizable, important and valuable gum card of the post-war era – a hobby icon – is on the auction block here, with the story of 1952 Topps cards and the elusive high numbers, including famous #311 starring a young Mickey Mantle, well-known to hobbyists. We won’t recount it but rather include our consignor’s interesting story of this card’s provenance. It reads in part, “I renewed my collecting interest in the spring of 1973 and in my quest to collect the cards I collected as a youngster, I obtained a number of cards including this very card via an ad I placed in a western Canadian newspaper in the summer of 1973. I have lovingly cared for this card for 46 years. The person from whom I acquired this along with other cards was the original owner and likely found it in his Topps pack back in 1952. So, for the past 67 years it has had only two owners, so it is a newcomer to the hobby in a sense.” We concur and we’d also say that this tempting example was very strictly graded by PSA. Very lightly touched corners are observed, but also alluring near-perfect centering and an impressive blemish-free surface. In our estimation, it has much more eye appeal than a PSA EX 5 Mantle that we auctioned in February of last year and likely the most attractive VG-EX 4 Mantle one could hope for. Contrary to the latter, this is the #311A version, (with a clean top edge of the marquee on the front, the last “e” of the facsimile autograph curling upward and the stitching on the back number circle pointing left). Obtained from a member of a prominent British Columbia, Canada sporting family, the tantalizing encapsulated treasure awaits its new appreciative home.
By clicking this button, you will IMMEDIATELY bid the amount selected.
By clicking this button, you will submit this amount as your MAXIMUM (absentee) bid. The auction software will place bids on your behalf up to this amount only as it is bid against competitively by other bidder(s).