A jaw-dropping collection of autographed cards spanning Mickey Mantle’s entire career is about to hit the auction block.
Originally pieced together by a diligent collector from California, the collection includes 22 signed Mantle cards, including his 1951 Bowman rookie and 1952 Topps. Each will be solid individually. Of the 22 cards that will be offered, 16 carry PSA/DNA 10 autograph grades.
The cards were passed down from the estate of the collector to family members who have consigned them.
Most are signed in blue Sharpie; others carry blue ink signatures.
The total value of the collection is well into six figures. Not bad, considering that at one time some believed having a Hall of Famer sign his cards was thought to “ruin its value.” Collectors have spoken and the opposite is generally true when it comes to icons of the sport, especially those now deceased.
“The cards are sure to bring many record prices due to the demand of autographed vintage cards of the top baseball stars and of course Mickey Mantle is right at the top,” SCP Auctions President David Kohler told Sports Collectors Daily. “Most of these are the first examples to be auctioned.”
The 1952 Topps, with a 10 auto grade, is expected to sell for $75,000 or more while the 1951 Bowman Mantle estimate is $40,000.
In addition to the ’51 Bowman and ’52 Topps, the collection also includes 1953 Topps and Bowman cards, both with 10 auto grades. Not many signed early Mantle cards exist, with most carrying a population of less than 35 on PSA’s census.
Nearly every base card from Mantle’s career is included along with three All-Star cards from the 1960s and the 1969 Topps white letter variation with an ink signature. Only eight of those exist.
The cards will be part of SCP’s next major auction, which opens November 21 and closes December 8 at SCPAuctions.com.
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