1952 Topps MANTLE
Except otherwise stated, all results include the premium.
See also : Sport Sport cards Baseball
Chronology : 1952
See also : Sport Sport cards Baseball
Chronology : 1952
Intro
The bubble gum has somehow succeeded to tobacco : Topps Chewing Gum becomes a leader in its market by using the previous distribution networks of a tobacco company.
At the instigation of Sy Berger, Topps makes a sensational entry into the edition of baseball cards. After a first trial in 1951, they launch in 1952 an extensive series with sharp pictures, pretty colors and a pleasantly didactic inscription on the back.
The project is ambitious and innovative. The image of the player printed in beautiful colors is accompanied by a fac simile of his autograph signature. The back side lists the statistics and feats of the player as well as his personal attributes and some laudatory comments.
The printing of the 1952 series is made in several batches including the selection of additional players. Topps wanted to keep going but their extension of the 1952 series, numbers 311 to 407, was not released on suitable time.
The unsold stock was of no further use to them and they drowned in 1960 in the Atlantic Ocean a barge loaded with the huge remains of the second part of the 1952 edition.
Mickey Mantle is that young handsome player who was iconic of the postwar American dream.
1952 had begun quite bad for him. The New York Yankees' great prospect, highlighted in early 1951 as Joe DiMaggio's designated successor, had finally made a dull season. After being downgraded to the Minor League, he returned to the Major League but suffered a severe injury to his right knee in an action with DiMaggio.
His father who was also his mentor dies on May 7, 1952 at the age of 40 of a blood disease. It was not known at the time that his illness was lead poisoning developed when mining. The young Mickey who was psychologically fragile believed in a hereditary curse. On July 8 Mickey is selected for the All-Star Game as an outfielder but left in reserve.
Mantle's omission in the first 310 players is probably due to his poor start of the season. When he becomes the first of the final 311-407, it is too late. The 1952 season is already well underway and Topps is slowing down the distribution to prepare for 1953 with suitably updated attributes.
An excellent participation at the beginning of October in the World Series launches the career of Mickey Mantle in a sustainable way. Although 1952 is not his rookie year, the rare Topps 1952-311 will become the most desirable of the modern baseball cards.
Owning a high grade 1952-311 card is currently recommended as a strong investment. The date of this edition is not so old and our grandfathers are feverishly searching into the shoeboxes of their youth. The population of PSA graded cards is growing significantly : 1,225 in December 2015, 1,392 in October 2016, and approaching 1,600 in 2019.
The top of the scale at PSA is occupied by 3 cards graded Gem Mint 10 and 6 graded Mint 9.
At the instigation of Sy Berger, Topps makes a sensational entry into the edition of baseball cards. After a first trial in 1951, they launch in 1952 an extensive series with sharp pictures, pretty colors and a pleasantly didactic inscription on the back.
The project is ambitious and innovative. The image of the player printed in beautiful colors is accompanied by a fac simile of his autograph signature. The back side lists the statistics and feats of the player as well as his personal attributes and some laudatory comments.
The printing of the 1952 series is made in several batches including the selection of additional players. Topps wanted to keep going but their extension of the 1952 series, numbers 311 to 407, was not released on suitable time.
The unsold stock was of no further use to them and they drowned in 1960 in the Atlantic Ocean a barge loaded with the huge remains of the second part of the 1952 edition.
Mickey Mantle is that young handsome player who was iconic of the postwar American dream.
1952 had begun quite bad for him. The New York Yankees' great prospect, highlighted in early 1951 as Joe DiMaggio's designated successor, had finally made a dull season. After being downgraded to the Minor League, he returned to the Major League but suffered a severe injury to his right knee in an action with DiMaggio.
His father who was also his mentor dies on May 7, 1952 at the age of 40 of a blood disease. It was not known at the time that his illness was lead poisoning developed when mining. The young Mickey who was psychologically fragile believed in a hereditary curse. On July 8 Mickey is selected for the All-Star Game as an outfielder but left in reserve.
Mantle's omission in the first 310 players is probably due to his poor start of the season. When he becomes the first of the final 311-407, it is too late. The 1952 season is already well underway and Topps is slowing down the distribution to prepare for 1953 with suitably updated attributes.
An excellent participation at the beginning of October in the World Series launches the career of Mickey Mantle in a sustainable way. Although 1952 is not his rookie year, the rare Topps 1952-311 will become the most desirable of the modern baseball cards.
Owning a high grade 1952-311 card is currently recommended as a strong investment. The date of this edition is not so old and our grandfathers are feverishly searching into the shoeboxes of their youth. The population of PSA graded cards is growing significantly : 1,225 in December 2015, 1,392 in October 2016, and approaching 1,600 in 2019.
The top of the scale at PSA is occupied by 3 cards graded Gem Mint 10 and 6 graded Mint 9.
Mint + 9.5 by SGC from the Rosen Find
2022 SOLD for $ 12.6M by Heritage
The dealer Alan Rosen was using the self attributed moniker Mr Mint for his business. Renowned for his offerings of high condition baseball cards, he sold a T206 Wagner for $ 76,000 in 1990. He edited with Doug Garr in 1991 an "Insider's Guide to Investing in Baseball Cards and Collectibles".
Mr Mint acquired in 1985 a collection of high number 1952 Topps cards in mint condition. He will say that his best # 311 Mantle from that set was in his opinion"the finest known example in the world".
Investment went fast. Mr Mint soon sold his # 311 for a reported $ 3,500. He reacquired it in 1991 for $ 40,000 and sold it to a demanding collector for $ 50,000 during the 1991 New York Post Card show.
The grading systems were in infancy. PSA was created in 1991 as the very first grading and authentication company. The happy collector treasured his # 311 for 31 years without grading it.
Now aged 76 and considering that all his friends have seen it, he consigned it to Heritage after reportedly refusing an offer for a $ 10M private deal. After a transfer in armored truck, it is now the one off # 311 Mantle graded MT+ 9.5 by SGC. This high grading rewards a perfect centering, sharp corners and beautiful colors. The SGC label designates it as the "finest known example".
It was sold for $ 12.6M by Heritage on August 27, 2022, lot 53014. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Three other # 311 have been graded Gem Mint 10 by PSA. Heritage comments that "graded standards have changed over the decades" and that the Rosen find would arguably win against them.
Mr Mint acquired in 1985 a collection of high number 1952 Topps cards in mint condition. He will say that his best # 311 Mantle from that set was in his opinion"the finest known example in the world".
Investment went fast. Mr Mint soon sold his # 311 for a reported $ 3,500. He reacquired it in 1991 for $ 40,000 and sold it to a demanding collector for $ 50,000 during the 1991 New York Post Card show.
The grading systems were in infancy. PSA was created in 1991 as the very first grading and authentication company. The happy collector treasured his # 311 for 31 years without grading it.
Now aged 76 and considering that all his friends have seen it, he consigned it to Heritage after reportedly refusing an offer for a $ 10M private deal. After a transfer in armored truck, it is now the one off # 311 Mantle graded MT+ 9.5 by SGC. This high grading rewards a perfect centering, sharp corners and beautiful colors. The SGC label designates it as the "finest known example".
It was sold for $ 12.6M by Heritage on August 27, 2022, lot 53014. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
Three other # 311 have been graded Gem Mint 10 by PSA. Heritage comments that "graded standards have changed over the decades" and that the Rosen find would arguably win against them.
Mint 9 by SGC from the Rosen find
2023 SOLD for $ 4.5M by Heritage
In his trove of 1952 high number Topps cards in superior condition, beside the card now graded Mint + 9.5 by SGC sold for $ 12.6M in 2022 by Heritage, Al "Mr Mint" Rosen also acquired another nearly perfect Mickey Mantle 1952-311.
This card now graded Mint 9 by SGC was sold for $ 4.5M by Heritage on August 19, 2023, lot 80026.
This card now graded Mint 9 by SGC was sold for $ 4.5M by Heritage on August 19, 2023, lot 80026.
Mint 9 by PSA
2018 SOLD for $ 2.9M by Heritage
As of 2018 PSA ranked three cards as Gem Mint 10 and six as Mint 9. None had been auctioned for more than a decade. One of the Mint 9 was sold for $ 2.9M by Heritage on April 19, 2018, lot 80477. Please watch the video shared by Heritage.
With its bright colors and excellent centering this card excites the experts. The reason why it did not obtain the Gem Mint 10 grade is not revealed in the catalog.
This card was sold privately for $ 5.2M in January 2021
With its bright colors and excellent centering this card excites the experts. The reason why it did not obtain the Gem Mint 10 grade is not revealed in the catalog.
This card was sold privately for $ 5.2M in January 2021
NM-MT + 8.5 by PSA
2024 SOLD for $ 2.37M by Heritage
A Topps Mantle graded NM-MT+ 8.5 by PSA was sold for $ 2.37M by Heritage on February 24, 2024, lot 80019. It is in an as new condition with high gloss, sharp corners and without stains.
A 1952 Topps card # 311 graded NM-MT 8.5 + by PSA was sold by Heritage for $ 1.13M on November 17, 2016, lot 50786. and for $ 765K on December 5, 2019, lot 51027. It has beautiful colors and a remarkable lack of wear. It was brought by a visitor at the Heritage booth in a trade fair in August, 2016 and was immediately appraised by PSA.
A 1952 Topps card # 311 graded NM-MT 8.5 + by PSA was sold by Heritage for $ 1.13M on November 17, 2016, lot 50786. and for $ 765K on December 5, 2019, lot 51027. It has beautiful colors and a remarkable lack of wear. It was brought by a visitor at the Heritage booth in a trade fair in August, 2016 and was immediately appraised by PSA.
NM-MT 8 by PSA
Intro
The highest grades defined by PSA are 10 Gem Mint, 9 Mint and 8 Near-Mint-to-Mint, summarized respectively as Virtually perfect, Superb and Super high end. Collectors are of course looking for the best ranked, but also for the finest cards in their grade.
A card graded 8 may have some minor imperfections such as wax stain on the back, fraying on two corners, printing defect, off white edges, 65/35 centering on image side and 90/10 on reverse side. Visual appeal is not measurable and is not considered for the attribution of the grade. Nothing prevents an 8 from having retained the brightest colors.
As for 2024 PSA has graded without a MK qualifier 35 52-Topps #311 at NM-MT 8 and 14 higher.
A card graded 8 may have some minor imperfections such as wax stain on the back, fraying on two corners, printing defect, off white edges, 65/35 centering on image side and 90/10 on reverse side. Visual appeal is not measurable and is not considered for the attribution of the grade. Nothing prevents an 8 from having retained the brightest colors.
As for 2024 PSA has graded without a MK qualifier 35 52-Topps #311 at NM-MT 8 and 14 higher.
1
2021 SOLD for $ 2.1M by Memory Lane
The 1952 Topps Mantle from the Thomas Newman collection is graded NM-MT 8 by PSA. It was sold at lot 5 for $ 2.1M by Memory Lane on July 10, 2021.
PSA is possibly more lenient for NM-MT 8 or better grades of this specific issue. Their rate of 2.63% nearly doubles SGC’s rate (1.5%) and five times higher than BVG (0.56%).
PSA is possibly more lenient for NM-MT 8 or better grades of this specific issue. Their rate of 2.63% nearly doubles SGC’s rate (1.5%) and five times higher than BVG (0.56%).
2
2021 SOLD for $ 2.03M by Goldin
Triggered in 2020, the boom in contemporary cards has led to an undeniable increase in the value of classic trading cards. Two online sales, by Heritage on February 27, 2021 and by Goldin on March 6, 2021, allowed comparisons in period within this evolving market.
Two Mickey Mantle rookie cards compete against each other, the 1951 Bowman and the 1952 Topps. The Topps had attracted an early attention because it was in the delayed edition whose publisher destroyed a large part of his production.
The rest of this discussion is only about cards graded NM-MT 8 by PSA.
Until 2020 inclusive, the highest auction price for an NM-MT 8 was $ 204K for the Mantle Bowman and $ 660K for the Mantle Topps, respectively since 2016 and 2017. Population no longer explains the price differences : 53 with only 10 higher for Bowman, 35 with 16 higher for Topps.
The Topps is an expressive photo in which the champion in action is a real symbol of the American dream of that time. In the highest grades, amateurs pay new attention to aesthetics. The record-breaking Topps 8 of 2017, which has an excellent visual appeal, was sold for $ 1.6M by Goldin on January 30, 2021.
Similar aesthetic considerations may apply beyond the grade on the Wagner T206 but certainly not for the 1951 Bowman, a clumsily retouched image.
In the March 2021 sales, the Bowman is at lot 80017 by Heritage and at lot 67 by Goldin. A few days before ending, the bids are close to 5%, more than doubling the 2016 record. Goldin's Topps, lot 2, is advertised as "One of the Hobby's Very Best PSA NM-MT 8 Examples". The Topps from Heritage, lot 80020, is advertised as "pack fresh".
The results were as follows.
The Bowmans were sold for $ 620K each.
The Heritage Topps was sold for $ 890K. This card was soon afterward sold for $ 860K by Goldin, on May 22, 2021, lot 5. Please watch the video shared by Goldin. This card was sold by Heritage for $ 1.56M on February 26, 2022, lot 80021 (see below).
The Goldin Topps was sold for $ 1.32M. It was sold a few months later for $ 2.03M, also by Goldin, on October 23, 2021, lot 1.
Two Mickey Mantle rookie cards compete against each other, the 1951 Bowman and the 1952 Topps. The Topps had attracted an early attention because it was in the delayed edition whose publisher destroyed a large part of his production.
The rest of this discussion is only about cards graded NM-MT 8 by PSA.
Until 2020 inclusive, the highest auction price for an NM-MT 8 was $ 204K for the Mantle Bowman and $ 660K for the Mantle Topps, respectively since 2016 and 2017. Population no longer explains the price differences : 53 with only 10 higher for Bowman, 35 with 16 higher for Topps.
The Topps is an expressive photo in which the champion in action is a real symbol of the American dream of that time. In the highest grades, amateurs pay new attention to aesthetics. The record-breaking Topps 8 of 2017, which has an excellent visual appeal, was sold for $ 1.6M by Goldin on January 30, 2021.
Similar aesthetic considerations may apply beyond the grade on the Wagner T206 but certainly not for the 1951 Bowman, a clumsily retouched image.
In the March 2021 sales, the Bowman is at lot 80017 by Heritage and at lot 67 by Goldin. A few days before ending, the bids are close to 5%, more than doubling the 2016 record. Goldin's Topps, lot 2, is advertised as "One of the Hobby's Very Best PSA NM-MT 8 Examples". The Topps from Heritage, lot 80020, is advertised as "pack fresh".
The results were as follows.
The Bowmans were sold for $ 620K each.
The Heritage Topps was sold for $ 890K. This card was soon afterward sold for $ 860K by Goldin, on May 22, 2021, lot 5. Please watch the video shared by Goldin. This card was sold by Heritage for $ 1.56M on February 26, 2022, lot 80021 (see below).
The Goldin Topps was sold for $ 1.32M. It was sold a few months later for $ 2.03M, also by Goldin, on October 23, 2021, lot 1.
3
2021 SOLD for $ 1.6M by Goldin
A #311 graded NM-MT 8 by PSA was sold for $ 460K by Heritage on February 23, 2019 and for $ 570K by Goldin on November 1, 2020. It has an exceptional centering, a glossy surface and a very nice color contrast between the portrait and the azure blue background.
Another example in the same grade has similar qualities plus very white edges, a perfectly printed reverse side and crisp corners. It was sold for $ 660K by Heritage on February 26, 2017, lot 80084 and for $ 1.6M by Goldin on January 30, 2021, lot 2. It was sold for $ 1.38M by Heritage on August 24, 2024, lot 80113.
Another example in the same grade has similar qualities plus very white edges, a perfectly printed reverse side and crisp corners. It was sold for $ 660K by Heritage on February 26, 2017, lot 80084 and for $ 1.6M by Goldin on January 30, 2021, lot 2. It was sold for $ 1.38M by Heritage on August 24, 2024, lot 80113.
4
2022 SOLD for $ 1.56M by Heritage
A 1952 Mantle Topps graded NM-MT 8 by PSA was sold for $ 1.56M on February 28, 2022 by Heritage, lot 80021.
This example had been discussed in this column in March 2021 for comparison with another card in same grade. It was sold for $ 890K by Heritage on February 27, 2021, lot 80020, and for $ 860K by Goldin on May 22, 2021, lot 5 (see above). Please watch the video shared by Goldin and the video shared in 2022 by Heritage.
Its front centering is far from perfect, appearing 65/35 horizontally and 40/60 vertically, and it has a noticeable black dot along its back edge.
This example had been discussed in this column in March 2021 for comparison with another card in same grade. It was sold for $ 890K by Heritage on February 27, 2021, lot 80020, and for $ 860K by Goldin on May 22, 2021, lot 5 (see above). Please watch the video shared by Goldin and the video shared in 2022 by Heritage.
Its front centering is far from perfect, appearing 65/35 horizontally and 40/60 vertically, and it has a noticeable black dot along its back edge.
5
2022 SOLD for $ 1.47M by Heritage
In mid-Summer 2015 two 1952 Topps Mantle in PSA NM-MT 8 conditionfetched simultaneously in the region of $ 400K. These results smashed the previous records that had never reached $ 300K even in higher grades. A short recession happened around 2018.
One of them has been sold by Goldin for $ 400K on July 31, 2015 and by Heritage for $ 410K on November 16, 2017.
The other example was sold by Heritage for $ 380K on July 30, 2015, lot 80016, and for $ 360K on February 24, 2018, lot 80027, and for $ 1.1M on February 25, 2023, again by Heritage, lot 80025. The 2023 catalogue describes it as "remarkably fine, with strong centering, flawless registration and a gloss that supplies a pack-fresh sheen".
A 1952 Topps Mantle graded NM-MT 8 by PSA was sold for $ 1.47M by Heritage on November 17, 2022, lot 56370. This example with bright colors, high gloss and sharp corners does not have a perfect centering.
A 1952 Topps Mantle graded NM-MT 8 by PSA was sold for $ 460K by Memory Lane on May 6, 2017, lot 540 and for $ 970K by Goldin on September 14, 2023, lot 2. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
One of them has been sold by Goldin for $ 400K on July 31, 2015 and by Heritage for $ 410K on November 16, 2017.
The other example was sold by Heritage for $ 380K on July 30, 2015, lot 80016, and for $ 360K on February 24, 2018, lot 80027, and for $ 1.1M on February 25, 2023, again by Heritage, lot 80025. The 2023 catalogue describes it as "remarkably fine, with strong centering, flawless registration and a gloss that supplies a pack-fresh sheen".
A 1952 Topps Mantle graded NM-MT 8 by PSA was sold for $ 1.47M by Heritage on November 17, 2022, lot 56370. This example with bright colors, high gloss and sharp corners does not have a perfect centering.
A 1952 Topps Mantle graded NM-MT 8 by PSA was sold for $ 460K by Memory Lane on May 6, 2017, lot 540 and for $ 970K by Goldin on September 14, 2023, lot 2. Please watch the video shared by the auction house.
NM-MT 8 by CGS
2022 SOLD for $ 1.25M by SCP
A 1952 Type 1 Topps Mantle recently graded NM-MT 8 by CSG was sold for $ 1.25M by SCP on December 11, 2022, lot 1. Please watch the videos shared by CSG and by the auction house.
The CSG video narrates that some cards have been double printed and that two types are in existence. It lists the slight typo differences between both, plus the fac simile signature of Mantle whose final curve is cut off in Type 2.
The card has a great eye appeal with a near flawless surface, an exceptional color and a great front side centering which is very rare in this issue.
The CSG video narrates that some cards have been double printed and that two types are in existence. It lists the slight typo differences between both, plus the fac simile signature of Mantle whose final curve is cut off in Type 2.
The card has a great eye appeal with a near flawless surface, an exceptional color and a great front side centering which is very rare in this issue.