2019 October Legends Closing October 19
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/20/2019
Encapsulated and assessed "Authentic" by PSA. An essentially impossible-to-find, never-released card of Eddie Stanky from the 1951 Topps "Major League All-Stars" series is presented. One of the postwar hobby's most fabled rarities, this Stanky example was intended for inclusion among Topps' "Major League All-Stars" issue, a group that is widely regarded as one of the most important of the company's creations.
The rarity of this card simply cannot be overstated: It is widely believed that there are fewer than a half-dozen copies extant, and most enthusiasts are acquainted with the design only through illustrations in hobby references. The offered example – which remained in-house as a "Proof" piece – exhibits a very rarely seen unperforated state and features a blank back, indicating that it was likely pulled from production prior to the final perforation process. The card is hand-cut (clearly, from a proof sheet) and concedes physical faults induced by handling.
This singular piece's only numerically graded counterpart (residing in a PSA PR-FR 1 holder) last changed hands at auction in 2010 at a price in excess of $35,000. This is an extremely significant Topps rarity that would be ideal for inclusion in a sophisticated gallery of highest-level collectibles.