Big bucks indeed!
 

Sporting News Ruth sold for 717k. Baltimore News in poor condition sold for 450k years ago. I imagine the PSA 4 would sell for 1 million plus as well as PSA 8 Sporting News.

PSA 8 Mantle is 500k. It seems a stretch that an 8.5 gets to 1 million. A 9 or 10 would.

I am not a super high end collector but talk to a few and from a very reliable source heard a 1952 Topps PSA 9 went for over 3 million.

He said at the National an 8.5 was graded there and they drove it 11 hours to get graded. I would assume this is the example.

They were shopping it he said at the National in 1.3 to 1.5 million range I believe.

Apparently it is a really nice copy and he said he had no issue with seeing it in an 8.5 holder.

$3 million for a PSA 9?? Yikes!!!

If that is indeed true, I wonder why there was no mention of it? I would think that whomever brokered the deal, would want some publicity for it, no?

Tony

I've heard rumors one of the Cobb backs went for a mil or more, and a 53 Topps Mantle 10 did as well.

And Tony I would guess the guy who paid 3 mil for the 52 Mantle wanted to keep the sale private and asked the broker not to release details. I have heard rumors of a couple of private sales in that range though.

I first read a post on this board about it and when he mentioned the Mantle 8.5 I asked him about it.

Apparently there is a very strong private market for high end cards. A lot of flipping is what it sounds like is taking place. If one wanted to point to a warning sign that could be one in general. For prices of assets to hold long term you need strong hands. The 1952 Mantle in the highest grades are clearly in them and this is obviously helping drive up the prices for the card.

I am of the mind set that the higher the prices go the more desirable the cards become and this leads to even greater interest. The exact opposite of what you learn in economics classes.

A high grade 1952 Topps Mantle is the gold standard and anyone can buy into the idea it should be valuable.

SMR lists a 4.5 Cobb/Cobb T206 at $1 million, but I'm not sure if that's based on any sales data. One of the "Lucky 7" was graded a 4.5.

http://www.psacard.com/smrpriceguide...acco-back/2123

The older guy from Memory Lane told me the 4.5 T206 Cobb/Cobb back was
sold for almost 2 million. They had it on display at their booth at the National. I was actually fortunate enough to hold it.

I do not and never will understand why anyone would pay more for a relatively common card in high grade than a truly rare and remarkable card in decent grade. And, yes, I consider the 52 Topps Mantle to be a relatively common card.

The card has a mistique to it that can or cannot be explained.
Just the way it is. I would happily buy an auth card and be happy
If I had the money.....of course. 10k for an auth nowadays?

Chump change...