Anyone here building a complete 1952 Topps set?

[Zone91]

If so in what grade or grades and how many cards do you have so far out of the 407 cards in the full set?

I have decided to build the set since I already have the Mantle in PSA 4 (looks much more like a 5...very strong for the grade). I will go with PSA 4's, PSA 4.5's and PSA 5's. So far I only own 13 PSA graded cards (All 11 are well centered for the grade). This will be a long project and I need that in my life why because it feels good!!

The cards I purchase have to have nice centering as well!!!

Post # 15 last one for today

[Brianruns10]

I'm building the set. Been at it since late 2010, and I'm just shy of 100 cards. I'm going slow though, cherry picking cards in the PSA 6-8 range (I'll dip to 5 for the high numbers), and I'm going for perfect centering.

I don't have the Mantle, but I've got the Pafko and the Matthews both in PSA 5, and the Robinson in 5 as well. Got 20 high numbers in all, the rest mostly commons with a couple of minor HOFers. Also have the Sain/Page error cards.

It's a fantastic, beautiful set, rivaled I think only by the t206 in both scope and aesthetic appeal. Definitely not for the impatient, this is a set that demands to be assembled with care and an eye for quality.

Good luck with the rest of your set. The Mantle card will likely be the last one I obtain, so I envy you.

[Zone91]

Brianruns10

You have some nice cards for sure....the # 407 is tough!!! In what grade do you want to get the Mantle in?

I am kind of worried about the high numbers they seem to be selling for way more than what they are valued in the SMR.

I have been changing the amount of 52 Topps cards I own in my opening statement because I am currently buying some almost every day.

Post # 1

[bobsbbcards]

Originally Posted by Zone91

they seem to be selling for way more than what they are valued in the SMR.

Ignore SMR and get yourself a subscription to VCP (www.vintagecardpricing.com). It will more than pay for itself over time.

[Zone91]

bobsbbcards

Thanks!!

Post # 2

[Zach Wheat]

Adrian,

I am completing a set of 1952 Topps. I am about 18 high numbers short of a full set.

This set and all of the print variations has been covered extensively - and there are a lot of collectors trying to complete different portions of the set. Some of the unique & intriguing facets of collecting this set include 1) the tough Canadian gray back series 131-190 (Ted Z is the specialist on this series); 2) The Campos Red Star, black star & partial black/red star variations (Al R has all 3 variations); 3) the red back/black back cards, as well as 4) all the high number cards.

You will have particular interest in collecting all of the tough "Canadian" gray back mid-series cards. Ted Z will tell you just how tough this accomplishment will be! In fact, I am not sure if Ted Z has even completed this yet.

Adrian are you going for a Master set? I am traveling and would post some pics of the partial Campos Red star/black star variation which I acquired from a fellow Net 54'er, but it will have to wait.

Maybe Al R will post the 3 variations of the Campos card.

Zach Wheat

[Brianruns10]

Originally Posted by Zone91

Brianruns10

You have some nice cards for sure....the # 407 is tough!!! In what grade do you want to get the Mantle in?

I am kind of worried about the high numbers they seem to be selling for way more than what they are valued in the SMR.

I have been changing the amount of 52 Topps cards I own in my opening statement because I am currently buying some almost every day.

Post # 1

I think the Mathews is THE sleeper of the whole series. He is a perfect storm of rarity...single printed on the sheet. A HOFer. It's his one and true Rookie card, he was the last card in the set, meaning he comes up with the same problems as the Pafko in terms of wear and tear, and because of his location on the sheet (I suspect the corner) finding a truly centered example is practically a snipe hunt. The one I bought is dead centered on all sides, and I paid a healthy premium over SMR for it...and I don't regret it, as I've yet to see another like it come up on ebay or auction in the two years since I bought it.

As for the SMR, I use it, and I find int pretty handy. The trick is when buying any set, but especially the '52s, quality impacts the value. I've seen mediocre high number cards sell for significantly less than SMR. And I've seen dead centered ones go for almost double SMR. People will pay for that eye appeal that comes with a centered example, and as I've said elsewhere before, if I was offered the choice between a PSA 8 slightly off center, and a PSA 6 dead centered, each for the same price, I'd take the PSA 6 in a heartbeat.

As for the Mantle...I'm gonna hold out for a good one. I share the sentiments of many who feel it is an over-valued card, especially in the lower grades. I'm not a speculator looking to turn a quick profit, but should the need a arise, I want to be able to recoup my money, and I'd hope the card's values would keep pace at least with inflation. So you gotta go with quality, and when I buy the Mantle, it'll be a dead centered card, and I'm gonna aim for a PSA 6.

[Zone91]

Brianruns10

The 52 Topps Mantle to me is always going to be a good card I have been collecting cards mostly hockey since 1989 and the Mantle has always done well when it looks nice for the grade be it a PSA 1 or a PSA 10. I would not buy a ugly looking Mantle just to say I own one...that would be a bad move in my opinion for any collector.

People talk down on the Mantle sometimes (but those are the same people most of the time who would die to own one and can't afford it and simply wish the price went down so they could buy one...and truth be told Mantle has millions of fans that collect his cards...not to many players in ANY sport can claim that....OK maybe Babe Ruth) but truly Mantle is king of the post war cards and has always been....no new player will eclipse Mantle in popularity when it comes to card collecting...Barry Bonds has 762 home runs almost no one cares about him same can be said about 99,99% of the new players.

Your Matthew card is also a very good card to own again only if it looks nice for the grade like yours seems to be.

People ALMOST always talk down on cards deep down they most want....the nature of humans to try to get a deal!!! But the day a collector actually has one in his hands that he actually owns believe me that collector will be super proud to own the 52 Topps Mantle....that goes for 99,99% of collectors....and maybe 0,01% who are always unhappy no matter what good fortune happens in their life.

Post # 6

[ALR-bishop]

Boy do I ever hate that ugly 61 Mantle Dice card. Can not believe Bob and Larry would spend much on that thing