For Dave, Tony, and Michael:
I devoted two chapters to my book, NEVER CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN, on the 1953-55 Stahl-Meyer Franks cards. There's extensive coverage on the Mickey Mantle cards of 1953-54. While I cannot say if there will be any information you do not already know, I honestly believe you would find what is presented very worth your time to read and the $30 I charge.
Mind you, it is an E-book on a CD. Works great. Simply put, you insert the CD into your disc drive of your computer or laptop. You'll enjoy it as you would enjoy reading and relishing the threads on Net54baseball.com.
PM me if you are interested in pursuing the matter. In my heart of hearts, I think you'll be very glad you did. Our hobby is not known for producing a nice wealth of reading material beyond price guides; my book offers something most worthwhile about the 1947 - 1971 regional / food "free" prizes.
If you wish to consult someone else about what THEY think of NEVER CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN before considering buying my book, contact Net54's Chris De Bono. Several weeks ago, our Rich Klein wrote on the board Dr. Jim Beckett really enjoyed my book.
My first customer is a huge Pirates card collector. He said he loved my book, and furthermore, it helped him quickly with two matters regarding Buc cards.
Should you wish to read the press release of NEVER CHEAPER BY THE DOZEN that my editor, former SCD editor Tom Bartsch, wrote, simple Google search the book's title--comes right up!
Food for thought!
Best regards, guys. Oh, and serious condolences on losing out on the Stahl-Meyer Mickey. A tough loss, for sure. Heartiest of congrats to you, Mike, the winner.
I am EXTREMELY FORTUNATE to own two of them, and if you went by the Beckett and SCD guides of 1988-89, I seriously overpaid for them both. However, when I was tenaciously hunting for the tough Mickey Mantles, I was NOT looking for a good deal. I was looking for a good card that was very, very tough to find in pleasing condition, and on this one, I expected to pay accordingly. When the phrase was coined, "you can throw the price guide out the window on this one", a Stahl-Meyer Franks Mantle could easily have been the catalyst. Furthermore, on each of the two occasions I got a Stahl-Meyer Mickey Mantle, when I saw the card, and it met my approval, I NEVER felt I had overpaid. I was just so happy with the card, both times, that they were such vibrant, fulfilling achievements for me as a raving "Mantle maniac".
I am very picky, looking closely at the picture clarity, the brilliance of the color chroma, print spots, corners, and centering. When you find something that's very scarce and rare X 10 to the third power, and it fulfills all you cherish in a card you love, you had better watch yourself so you don't do something stupid and louse up the opportunity. If it costs a few hundred more, you must remember, you may not get another chance in your lifetime again. Most of the time when you get a badly-wanted acquisition, you overpay, and just so relieved you got the card! That's how it was for me, at least. But then, when I was seriously buying, it was the late 1980s. This is late 2016, and the good cards cost a good fortune. Distilling the motivational feelings, aggression, and desires---nothing has changed. Those cards are still as elusive as ever, but the price to own them has most assuredly skyrocketed. Anyway, Mike, nice going. I looked at the card closely on Mile High's site---a regal beauty.
Seriously, when you get your Stahl-Meyer Mantle, please convey to us your feelings when you first hold it in your hand. From personal experience, I found holding this card profoundly moving, and quite above the 1952 Topps Mantle, much as I loved that card. Please don't underestimate how absolutely thrilling it was when I got my own 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle, back in early 1973. Yes, I remember it well. The ONLY card that moved me more was the Stahl-Meyer Franks, a card for years and years I honestly thought I would never own.
---Brian Powell at
bfpowell2003@yahoo.com