1952 Topps Mantle; Worth It In Any Condition?

[Exhibitman]

An example sold last night in Sterling for $3,828. It looks like it went through a washing machine and dryer cycle:




This seems to have become a card that certain collectors are willing to fork over huge money to own in any condition, and one that has reached the point where the average collector is unable to afford one. I cannot believe that this trend can continue, because unlike the T206 Wagner, Plank or similar cards, there are a heck of a lot of these available. Your thoughts?

[SMPEP]

There are over 2,000 graded 1952 Mantle cards listed on the registries.

But from my perspective ... makes more sense to spend big money on the Mantle ... than it does for a PSA 10 card (of anyone) from the 1970s.

So if people are willing to spend a ridiculous price (forget the exact number but over $1,000 at the least) for a PSA 10 1973 Art Shell card, then I think the value of teh mantle is safe from several years to come.

Of course now that I give this forcast ... the price will crash!
Patrick

[Beatles Guy]

It is well centered though

[Beatles Guy]

I think baby boomers drive the market on this card. Once that generation starts to pass away, you will not have anyone who actually collected in that era or watched Mantle play. Therefore I think the demand will slow.

As a Gen-Xer, I love the card, it's been iconic since I started collecting in the 70's. However, if I had the disposable income to purchase one, I think I'd pass unless the deal was so good that I could flip it for a decent profit.

[Bocabirdman]

Originally Posted by Beatles Guy

I think baby boomers drive the market on this card. Once that generation starts to pass away, you will not have anyone who actually collected in that era or watched Mantle play. Therefore I think the demand will slow.

As a Gen-Xer, I love the card, it's been iconic since I started collecting in the 70's. However, if I had the disposable income to purchase one, I think I'd pass unless the deal was so good that I could flip it for a decent profit.

Nobody alive has seen Ty Cobb play or Wagner or ...well you get the idea. Their prices are holding up just fine...........

[Beatles Guy]

Originally Posted by Bocabirdman

Nobody alive has seen Ty Cobb play or Wagner or ...well you get the idea. Their prices are holding up just fine...........

I see your point. I would venture to say that there are a lot more '52 Mantle's out there than Cobb and Wagner.

[HappyJack41]

I'll just say this, I can think of A LOT better items to spend nearly $4,000 on than that faded piece of worn out, destroyed, scrap garbage

To answer your question, I don't see how the trend CAN'T continue......there's obviously no shortage of really, really "intelligent" people out there with too much money in their hands that are willing to pay $4,000 for scrap examples such as this when the card is actually so common and plentiful. Well over 2,000 examples......and that's just the graded ones! Haha. Doesn't even include all the raw specimens out there (probably actually closer to 3,000). It would be like the Griffey Jr. UD rookie fetching $100,000 20 years from now. I know seems so silly.....that's what everybody first thought in the early to mid 80's when the Mantle prices first started getting stupid.

[Exhibitman]

That's exactly my point, Roy. With thousands of these cards out there, no issue of scarcity exists, just demand.

[jason.1969]

This may be heresy to say, but I don't think the card looks THAT horrible. The color is nice, the centering is great, and it does show a picture of the Mick!

[jason.1969]

There is another force as work besides potentially decreased demand for Mantles relative to other cardboard. We should see the available supply creep up as well as boomers...brace yourself...die and their Mantles they never wanted to part with end up with with their kids who are anxious to liquidate. Still, I see prices going up for another 15 years before they go down at all.

[HappyJack41]

Originally Posted by jason.1969

There is another force as work besides potentially decreased demand for Mantles relative to other cardboard. We should see the available supply creep up as well as boomers...brace yourself...die and their Mantles they never wanted to part with end up with with their kids who are anxious to liquidate. Still, I see prices going up for another 15 years before they go down at all.

That could certainly be said for many, many collections (not just Mantles) that will be coming available over the next 10-15 years as they become liquidated. And let's not foget, doesn't have to be a deat, there's millions of baby boomers that have already entered or will soon be entering the retirement golden years which means money will be greatly needed for living and traveling in their twilight years. There's gonna be PLENTY of opportunities to acquire many great cards over the next decade that's for sure.

[1952boyntoncollector]

Originally Posted by HappyJack41

That could certainly be said for many, many collections (not just Mantles) that will be coming available over the next 10-15 years as they become liquidated. And let's not foget, doesn't have to be a deat, there's millions of baby boomers that have already entered or will soon be entering the retirement golden years which means money will be greatly needed for living and traveling in their twilight years. There's gonna be PLENTY of opportunities to acquire many great cards over the next decade that's for sure.

no one ever predicts the market to go down in 5 years...its always '10 or 15 years...why? cause when the consensus is 5 years....then its too late....the great selloff begins......

[the 'stache]

I guess I'll throw my hat into the discussion.

I don't mean to disrespect the buyer at all, as I am sure they are happy with their purchase. But I just couldn't pull the trigger on that card. Someday I will own a '52 Topps Mantle. And it will be in the lower grade, probably no higher than a PSA 2 or so. But there are so many examples of the same card in a PSA 1-2 that have much better eye appeal. Yes, they would command more than the $3,825 it cost to acquire this card, but wouldn't it be worth it?

This PSA 1 was recently sold on eBay by PWCC for $6,600. Yes, it's a lot more than what was paid for the one being discussed. But look at the difference in appearance.



I would much rather have this one because, well, it looks like a '52 Topps Mantle. The other one was run through the wash, and I don't want a card merely to say I own it. I want a card I could enjoy, and this one, with the higher price tag, would make me happy.

I know the centering is off (sorry, Matt ), but we're talking about the king of modern cards, and everybody wants one. I'd take what I could get without going over $10,000.