They’ve graded a lot of cards since launching in early 2021, but CSG now has a marquee name in its young population report. The company announced Tuesday that it had certified a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle and graded it NM/MT 8. It’s the most valuable card ever encapsulated by the Sarasota, FL-based subsidiary of Certified Collectors Group.
According to a CSG spokesperson, the card was crossed over from another third-party grading service to CSG by a private collector. The details of that decision, which company had previously graded it and what that company’s grade was weren’t released.
Fewer than 20 1952 Topps Mantle cards are graded higher out of about 2,000 residing in slabs, including an SGC 9.5 that sold for $12.6 million in August, setting a record for most expensive sports card at auction.
“It was an honor to authenticate and grade what is one of the most valuable cards in the hobby,” said Andy Broome, Vice President of CSG. “In my 24 years of professional grading, this ’52 Topps Manlte is the nicest I’ve ever had the honor of grading. The surface is just flawless. I can’t state enough how beautiful this card is.”
Broome says the card has a slight diamond cut or it may have been graded higher.
In addition to the Type 1 example graded CSG 8, CSG also certified a Type 2 example CSG 4.5. A card with that grade would be expected to sell for about $100,000 at auction.
CSG included the Type on each of its labels for the two newly graded Mantle cards. Minor printing differences, such as the direction of the seams on the baseball on the back of the card, distinguish the two types.
The owner of the CSG 8 Mantle hasn’t yet shared any plans for the card now that it has been crossed over.
In July of this year, CSG graded a 1952 Topps #261 Willie Mays card graded CSG 8 worth well over $100,000.
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