October Legends Closing October 29
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 10/30/2016
Graded 92 NM/MT+ ("8.5" equivalent) by SGC. Hall of Famer. This is one of just four examples at its tier (with seven specimens graded higher) among a total of more than 500 copies recorded in SGC's census reporting. The 1953 Bowman Color release is among the most popular sets in our hobby, and the offered example depicting Mickey Mantle displays one of the series' finest nostalgic designs.
Bowman's efforts in 1953 revolutionized the production of baseball cards. The company's 1953 Color cards' crisp and bright, color-photo illustrations, unencumbered by text or extraneous, decorative graphics, continue to be viewed today as miniature-masterpiece collectibles. The offered card is a very pleasing expression of its production's lovely aesthetic. Clean white borders frame Mantle's attention-grabbing, batting pose likeness. The card's superior color and focus, and its marvelous print quality, combine to yield outstanding eye appeal. The item's boundaries reveal sharply pointed corner tips. This is an enviable Mantle portrayal from Bowman's first – and most impressive – oversized issue. Near Mint to Mint-plus condition.