A 1991 Topps Baseball set featuring the Desert Shield logo topped bidding in an auction conducted by Mile High Card Company. Opening at 
$10,000, the set realized $75,872 and attracted 30 bids. Before you go to your closet preparing to cash in, though, it should be noted that the set was ranked #1 on PSA’s Set Registry, with all 792 cards not only graded, but far and away better than any other set ever pieced together.
The Desert Shield cards were produced by Topps for distribution to soldiers during the military operation.
Of the 792 cards, 690 were graded PSA 10 GEM MINT(87% of the entire set) including nearly every major star and the #333 Chipper Jones rookie card. The remaining cards in the set are all graded PSA 9 MINT, and until recently it was the only Desert Shield set completely graded MINT or GEM MINT. The set contains 46 GEM MINT cards that stand alone as a pop 1 with 80 more listed as a pop 2 on PSA’s population report.
A 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle graded PSA 8 finished strong, selling for $75,198. That beat the last one, which sold in 2010 for over $71,000. A PSA 7 Mantle brought $29,059. A lower end, graded 1952 set with wrapper went for $59,445. All prices include a buyer’s premium.
To see more 1991 Topps Desert Shield cards on eBay, click here.
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