1952 Topps Complete Set Minus One (406/407) Including 178 Graded Cards!

Sold For:

$41,475

Year:

1952

Auction:

2013 Fall

Lot #:

17

Category:

Featured

1952 Topps near-complete set of 406 cards (missing just #311 Mantle for completion, which is offered separately as its own lot). This is an outstanding opportunity to acquire a complete set (minus #311 Mantle) of 1952 Topps, the premier postwar gum-card set, in outstanding condition without spending the fortune that this set would cost in a much higher grade, or the considerably higher amount that it would almost certainly cost to put this set together one card at a time. This set includes an incredible 178 graded cards (149 PSA and 29 SGC), which represent a significant investment in their own right. All of the rare high numbers are professionally graded as well as many of the key cards and desirable low numbers. While the condition of cards from this set spans several grades, even the lesser-graded cards are very pleasing and exhibit bright colors and crisp focus. The low numbers (#1-310) grade as follows: Ungraded cards: 56% Ex with some better and 44% Vg to Vg-Ex (including a few Pr/Gd and trimmed). Keys: #1 Pafko (Vg-Ex), 26 Irvin (Vg-Ex), 33 Spahn (Vg-Ex+), 36 Hodges (Ex), 59 Roberts (Ex+), 65 Slaughter (Vg+), 88 Feller (Ex), 91 Schoendienst (Vg), 122 Jensen (Vg-Ex+), 129 Mize (Vg-Ex+), 175 Martin RC (Vg), 191 Berra (Ex), 195 Minoso (Ex), 216 Ashburn (Vg), 243 Doby (Ex), 246 Kell (Ex), 250 Erskine (Vg-Ex), and 286 Lemon (Vg-Ex). Graded cards: NM-MT 8 (8 cards): #27, 116, 134, 154, 163, 176, 253, and 271 (OC). NM+ 7.5 (3 cards): #138, 140, and 159. NM 7 (33 cards): #14, 18, 21, 23, 25, 52, 56, 58, 71, 73, 98, 105, 107, 111, 118, 123, 130, 145, 148, 150, 171, 178, 183, 202, 203, 204, 212, 213, 215 Bauer, 279, 288, 292, and 303. EX-MT+ 6.5 (4 cards): #37 Snider, 39, 196, and 239. EX-MT 6 (22 cards): #10, 41, 47, 51, 60, 61, 95, 106, 109, 124, 155, 158, 161, 162, 164, 165, 223, 249, 261 Mays, 274 Branca, 306, and 309. EX+ 5.5 (2 cards): #42 and 231. EX 5 (9 cards): #2 Runnels, 8, 11 Rizzuto, 113, 192, 277 Wynn, 300, 307, and 310. VG-EX+ 4.5 (1 card): #190. The rare high numbers (#311-407) grade as follows: NM-MT 8 (1 card): #339. NM 7 (7 cards): #315 Durocher, 342 Labine RC (OC), 364, 369 Groat RC, 379 (OC), 380, and 384 Crosetti. EX-MT+ 6.5 (1 card): #348. EX-MT 6 (29 cards): #312 Robinson, 314 Campanella, 318, 326 Shuba RC, 331, 333 Reese, 335 (SGC EX/NM 80), 336, 338, 343, 351 Dark, 352, 354 (SGC EX/NM 80), 355, 357 Burgess, 359, 367, 368, 370, 377 Dressen, 382, 392 Wilhelm RC, 393, 394 Herman, 396 Williams RC (SGC EX/NM 80), 397 (SGC EX/NM 80), 400 Dickey, 405, and 406 Nuxhall RC. EX+ 5.5 (6 cards): #316, 323 (SGC EX+ 70), 337, 345 (SGC EX+ 70), 349 (SGC EX+ 70), and 386 (SGC EX+ 70). EX 5 (21 cards): #317, 319, 322 (SGC EX 60), 330, 334, 340 (SGC EX 60), 341, 344 (SGC EX 60), 360, 361 (SGC EX 60), 374 (SGC EX 60), 378, 383 (SGC EX 60), 385, 387, 388 (SGC EX 60), 390, 398, 401, 403, and 404. VG-EX+ 4.5 (5 cards): #313 Thomson (SGC VG/EX, 321 Black RC (SGC VG/EX+ 55), 325 (SGC VG/EX+ 55), 353, and 381. VG-EX 4 (13 cards): #327, 328, 329 (SGC VG/EX 50), 332, 347 Adcock, 363 (SGC VG/EX 50), 365 (SGC VG/EX 50), 366, 373, 375, 389 Wade, 391, and 395. VG+ 3.5 (3 cards): #320 (SGC VG+ 45), 358, and 376 (SGC VG+ 45). VG 3 (5 cards): #346 (SGC VG 40), 350, 372 McDougald RC (SGC VG 40), 402, and 407 Mathews RC. GOOD+ 2.5 (1 card): #371. FAIR 1.5 (2 cards): #356 (SGC FAIR 20) and 362 (SGC FAIR 20). Authentic (2 cards): #324 (SGC) and 399 (SGC). The amazing thing about a quality 1952 Topps set such as this is the outstanding value it offers compared to cards in higher grade, as well as the comfort provided by the natural potential "break value" associated with such a set. This is a rarely offered, very pleasing mixed-grade complete set (minus one) of one of baseball-card collecting's premier issues, with numerous significant condition highlights. The SMR value for just 143 of the 178 graded cards (not including the thirty-two cards graded less than EX or the three qualified cards, and not including the 228 ungraded cards, and factoring in the thirteen half-grades at the lower whole-grade level) is $27,931. Total: 406 cards. Reserve $10,000. Estimate $20,000++. SOLD FOR $41,475