THE FIRST $10 MILLION TRADING CARD?

Heritage believes it has “finest known example” of iconic ’52 Topps Mantle

A1952 Topps Mickey Mantle card that was once sold by the late Alan “Mr. Mint” Rosen in 1991 to a then-anonymous buyer for $50,000 is expected to bring more than that when the same card is auctioned by Heritage in late August.

Far more.

With three weeks remaining in the auction at our press deadline, the card already had surpassed $7 million including buyer’s premium. Details of the final sale price can be found at Beckett.com.

The card, graded 9.5 Gem Mint by SGC, was called ‘the finest known example” by Rosen a er selling the card to Tony Giordano, the anonymous buyer who just recently stepped forward to reveal he’s owned the card ever since buying it from Rosen.

“This card is arguably the finest-condition example of the most iconic post-war card in the world,” says Chris Ivy, Heritage’s Director of Sports Auctions. “ at grade, plus the fact it has documented provenance from the most storied find in hobby history, puts this card in a category of its own. e card more than lives up to Rosen’s claim when viewed in person.”

Ivy says he expects the Mantle to sell for more than $10 million, as he says this is a finer example than the PSA Mint 9 for which actor-entrepreneur Rob Gough paid a then-record-setting $5.2 million last year. Should the card perform as Heritage believes it will, it would break the previous world record for a sports card realized just three weeks earlier, when Goldin announced the private sale of a T206 Honus Wagner for $7.25 million – at the time the most paid for a sports card ever.

“It bears the finest qualities any 1952 Topps can possess: perfect centering, registration and four sharp corners,” Ivy says of the card. “If you were to put this card in a lineup with the other known examples graded 9 or 10 and covered the labels, this would stand out as a clearly superior specimen. at this Mantle remained in this condition for 70 years is a true miracle.”