19551

HSC: 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle #253 PSA NM-MT 8 1

Currency:USD Category:Sports - Cards & Fan Shop / Sports - Cards Start Price:1.00 USD Estimated At:10,000.00 - 15,000.00 USD
HSC: 1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle #253 PSA NM-MT 8 1
<B>1951 Bowman Mickey Mantle #253 PSA NM-MT 8.</B></I> Argue all you'd like that the 1952 Topps card is Mickey's true rookie--our calendar tells us that the '51 Bowman was actually the first. We'll also take issue with anybody who claims the Topps rookie is a prettier card, as we're of the opinion that Bowman's designs of the early 1950's represent one of the high water marks in cardboard aesthetics. It surely shows on the flawlessly registered image of the nineteen-year old legend in the making, who stands at batting attention before a cloud-dappled sky on this high-grade rarity.<BR><BR> Educated collectors will understand the difficulty in achieving a grade of PSA NM-MT 8 on any 1951 Bowman, particularly those from the high-number series, which is led off by the Mick. Centering problems abound in this issue, and gum and wax stains are all but epidemic. Our offering is spared the brunt of such ailments, and takes it a step further by sporting four sharp corners and clean, unrubbed edges. Any "flaws" are so minor as to risk overstatement with a mere mention. In short, this one's a real blazer.<BR><BR> Of 840 such cards graded by PSA at the time of this writing, the population report tells us that collectors must chase down one of just ten cards on earth if they wish to upgrade from a PSA 8. Suffice it to say that finding one of the ten cards that top this one will be a difficult ordeal, and paying for it will be none too easy either.