2019 Winter Auction Closing March 2
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/2/2019
Graded 30 GD 2 by SGC. Hall of Famer, in his debut-year gum card appearance. Mickey Mantle's "true" rookie card – which was issued in the "High Number" series of the widely collected 1951 Bowman release – is presented. On the day this enticing card was created, the printer's art was on full display, resulting in a beautifully focused likeness of the beloved slugger. At the end of the manufacturing process, however, the slitting operation that separated the single card from its sheet was just slightly out of calibration, bringing about a somewhat unfortunate, rightward positioning of the illustration. The collectible carries very little evidence of past handling, and a couple of routine ink lines on the front and traces of wrapper wax on the back represent just slight imperfections. (None of the objectively evaluated technical details illuminating nominal faults, though, detract from the mystique of this card's central image of the New York Yankee legend.) This is a pleasing, collector-grade example of one of the most sought-after rookie cards in the hobby. Good condition.