Hey Rob. Brad here. As always I love to help with a little research now and then. I hope you have been able to move that Mantle/Maris piece. Here is a list of key cards and semi key cards from your 59 set. The better condition the better your return. However I agree with previous comments that trying to turn a profit on this set is tough, not because it isn't wanted, just because there is a "plethora" of 59 Topps cards out there for the taking. It seems that collectors either just buy the set to get it done, or "force themselves to have fun" by picking up a few cards at a time.
But the problem is that everyone who breaks these sets up always pull the cards I have listed and sell them separate. One way I have been successful in doing what you are wanting to do is to put teams sets together, and yes include the key cards. It is really annoying to look at a listing for "1959 Topps Yankees Team Set" lets say, only to find out it is a team set minus the Mantle.
At the end of the key cards list is a description of variations to look out for. I make no mention of the gray backs vs. white backs because it seems you know about that already.
Happy hunting!
Mickey Mantle (#10)
Willie Mays (#50)
Stan Musial (#150)
Sandy Koufax (#163)
Yogi Berra (#180)
Roger Maris (#202)
Ernie Banks (#350)
Al Kaline (#360)
Hank Aaron (#380)
Frank Robinson (#435)
Brooks Robinson (#439)
Roberto Clemente (#478)
Harmon Killebrew (#515)
Felipe Alou (#102)
George "Sparky" Anderson (#338)
Bill White (#359)
Norm Cash (#509)
Bob Gibson (#514)
Bob Allison (#116)
John Blanchard (#117)
John Callison (#119)
Ron Fairly (#125)
Deron Johnson (#131)
Billy Pierce All-Star (#572)
Multi-player cards
Al Kaline and Charlie Maxwell (#34 Pitchers Beware)
Ernie Banks, Dale Long, and Walt Moryn (#147 Cubs Clubbers)
Minnie Minoso and Rocky Colavito (#166 Destruction Crew)
Hank Aaron and Ed Mathews (#212 Fence Busters).
Gil McDougald, Bob Turley, and Bobby Richardson (#237 Run Preventers)
Johnny Podres, Clem Labine, and Don Drysdale (#262 Hitter's Foes)
Roberto Clemente, Bob Skinner, and Bill Virdon as the Corsair Outfield Trio (#543)
Highlights
Mantle Hits 42nd Homer For Crown (#461)
Kaline Becomes Youngest Batting Champ (#463)
Mays' Catch Makes Series History (#464)
Snider's Play Brings L.A. Victory (#468)
Musial Raps 3,000th Hit (#470)
16 team cards
Ford Frick #1
Roy Campanella (#550 Symbol of Courage)
Warren Spahn appears on card #40 with three different reverse variations: #40A incorrectly lists his birth year as 1931
#40B also shows 1931, but with the numeral "3" partially obscured.
#40C shows the correct birth year as 1921.
Card #316, which was supposed to show Ralph Lumenti of the Senators, features Pascual's headshot and exists in two variations.
#316A, the more common variation, states "Optioned to Chattanooga in March 1959"on the reverse just below the cartoon
The much scarcer #316B is missing this caption.
Several other cards exist with and without "traded" and "optioned" captions, including:
#321 Bob Giallombardo
#322 Harry Hanebrink
#336 Billy Loes
#362 Dolan Nichols
Hope this helps!
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