Since I collect Topps and Bowman sets I find myself indifferent to the issue of whether his first Bowman card should be worth more than his first Topps card. But as a person who adds variations to my sets the Mantle ( along with the two other DP high numbers, Robinson and Thompson), added a good deal of expense to my 52 set build
The 3 DP variants do not have a great deal of hobby recognition, but the Mantle has both back ( stitches on ball on back run right or left) and front differences ( the most noticeable being the top line of stars is wavy or straight and the end of the e in the auto is full or truncated). I don't think the Registry lists the two versions in it's master list, but the SCD Standard Catalog does.
I assume, but do not know if both versions exist in the hobby in approximately equal numbers. Nor have I heard that one or the other carries any premium. But for variation set guys, the Topps Mantle is a dilemma...whether overvalued or not
