1951 Bowman Football

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Posted By: Guy Hankel

I felt compelled to give this set it's own thread, since it feels to me that it tends to get overshadowed somewhat by the '52 & '50 sets. Aesthetically, I prefer it to either of those years, and, compared to the '52 sets, you've got a fighting chance of completing the set in high grade. More collectors seem to go after the 1950 set (those appear to be a bit more plentiful in high grade), with it's stronger crop of rookies.

One of my favorites:

Guy

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Posted By: John S

It is hard for me to decide what year is my favorite of the '50, '51, and '52 sets so I actively collect them all. My first '51 was Jack Zilly about 25 years ago. I purchased it because I was enamored with the color and the pose. Unfortunately I do not have a readily available scan of that card. A couple other favorites from the '51 set:

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Posted By: Ray

1950-52 Bowman are probably my favorite years of cards (both baseball and football). The artwork is absolutely beautiful.

I'm currently building the '51 Bowman FB set, and once that's complete, I can't see myself NOT trying to complete '50 and '52.

Here's a few of my favorites (that I actually own):

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Posted By: JimCrandell

A beautiful classic set that I am fortunate enough to complete in psa 8 or better.

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Posted By: Guy Hankel

Jim,
As someone who's completed a high-grade set, I wanted to ask which cards were the toughest for you to track down. Were they the ones with the lowest pops at 8 or higher (i.e. Wildung, Lavelli, etc.) as one might suspect?
Guy

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Posted By: Brent Butcher

One of my favorite cards and 2nd favorite football set.

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Posted By: JimCrandell

Guy,

I meant to put in a scan with my post. Struggling with all this technology.

This was one of my early set completions(maybe 6 years ago) and I do not recall it being difficult to find any of the cards in 8.

Jim

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Posted By: Guy Hankel

Jim,
You were smart to take an interest in this set when you did. Although it's still underrated in my opinion, prices are starting to come up, and some of the more condition-sensitive cards aren't for sale, or they're fetching high prices. I think Mile High had a PSA 8 Lavelli in it's last auction, and it sold for over $1000. The centering wasn't optimal, and it appeared to have two very distracting pinkish print lines (these horizontal print lines just kill a lot of these '51s). Although I'm more interested in nm-mt for this set, I guess I'd rather have an unblemished PSA 7 with not-so-sharp corners for under $100 than that one.
Guy

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Posted By: JimCrandell

Of the early Bowman FB sets, I have found the 50, 51 and 54 the easiest to put together in psa 8 or better--the 53 and 48 are within 1-2 cards of completion and the hardest are the 52 Bowman small and large--I think I need 7 upgrades in each one for an 8 or better set.

Jim

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Posted By: Mr. Met

I am glad John S. posted a thread on the 51 Bowman set - this is my first post on net54. I love the 51 and 52 Bowman sets. As far as I'm concerned, they are, by far, the nicest football cards ever made. All other sets pale in comparison. I also feel that these cards are atrciously UNDERvalued. I recently bought a 52 Bowmal Large Elroy Hrisch in a PSA 6 for about $100 - that is ridiculous. I really think that when the next sports card boom hits, the 1950-1952 Boawman footbal sets will possibly double. BUY now!!!!

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Posted By: Clint

This is my favorite set, just beautiful looking cards. I still need 6 cards to complete the set.

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Posted By: Brian Lindholme

Does any one here have a scan of Jack Zilly's card?
I seem to recall that this is one of the wildest poses in any set...and boy do I agree with those who feel this set is among football's finest.

Brian L
familytoad

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Posted By: JimCrandell

That is a cool picture.

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Posted By: Brian Lindholme

That is a great pose, one of the finest I can recall.
I only have HOF Bowmans left, but if I ever venture back into FB set collecting (besides 71T FB of course I'm going to get a Zilly first and foremost!

Thanks for sharing
Brian L
familytoad

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Posted By: Fred Y

In response to your mention of some low POP cards in this set, I have pictured my Lavelli & Wildung cards along w/ 2 sheets of cards from my set--Cards 1-9 & 19 thru 27.

As I stated to Ted Z in the '52B thread--EVERY one of these cards were purchased & saved by me from date of issue, just as I got them out of 1¢ packs back in the day! They have never been anywhere but stored safely away for many yrs.

As you can see they still have the snow white borders & 4 razor sharp corners and exhibit virtually no handling abuse, but many have the dreaded print or print lines and of course some OC issues--but that is just the way they came from my corner store in 1951.

You will notice a blue line & blue ink blur on the right border of the Wildung---looks like a printers cut line.

Thought you all might enjoy seeing some old cards that are for all intent & purpose straight from a pack!

If anyone would like to see any specific card from this set, just ask & I'll be happy to post a scan of it. All of my set is raw as you see--I have considered grading but don't know how much the print lines will affect the grade--anyone know from experience??? (I would most likely use ONLY SGC)

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Posted By: Ray

Fred -

Great looking cards!

I'm not sure about SGC, but I know PSA doesn't seem to really consider the print lines in their grading of this set. I see them OFTEN on cards graded 7 and lower, but can't remember seeing them on any graded higher than that. On another note, they also don't really seem to factor in when they're out of focus either (at least on ones graded 7 and lower). I don't really look for the 8's and higher (out of my price range), but someone else may be able to give you some insight on whether or not PSA considers print lines and out of focus cards "unworthy" of an 8 or higher...or you may want to ask the folks on the CU boards.

I think the Wildung may get a print defect (PD) qualifier...but it seems that the PD qualifier is slowly but surely going the way of the dinosaur anyway.

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Posted By: Guy Hankel

Fred,
Thanks so much so sharing; it's always great to see part of an unadulterated vintage collection assembled by the original owner.

Yes, those print lines really seem to affect a lot of the '51s. As far as PSA grading goes, you can get away with a small print line for a nm-mt 8, but all other aspects better be close to top-notch.

It's interesting to see the line on the side of the Wildung (it was on the right side of the printing sheet covering numbers 109-144). I have a Hugh Taylor the has a red line visible on one side.

It looks like you've got a nice Barney Poole card; kind of condition-sensitive since it was a corner card on the first printing sheet.

I'd like to see some of your high numbers, especially the last nine cards of the set!

Thanks again,
Guy

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Posted By: Fred Y

In reply to Guy's request:

I have scanned 3 more sheets from my set in a little larger format

1st--Cards 73-81





2nd--Cards 118-126





3rd--Cards 136-144





As I said earlier, the print lines are sprinkled thruout my set from beginning to end---but as for 4 very sharp corners, pure white borders, nice deep coloring & pretty decent centering they present wonderfully well to my old eye!

PS---I will post a few '51 Topps Magic on the appropriate thread.

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Posted By: JimCrandell

Here is another 0f my favorite 1951s.

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Posted By: Fred Y

Thought it would be interesting to post my raw one right under Jim's beauty!

Not quite the dead-on centering Jim's has, but a very nice crisp,clean example:

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Posted By: JimCrandell

Clean and crisp is an understatement--beautiful card Fred.

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Posted By: andy

Is there any corrected errors in this set?

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Posted By: Fred Y

Hi Andy

To my knowledge there are NO error/variations at all in the '51 Bowman set.

In fact, there are virtually none in ANY of the early Bowman sets other than the 2 or 3 in the '54 set.

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Posted By: Anonymous

Thanks, i havent heard of any, but i figured i would ask to be certain.

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Posted By: Jason L

Was wondering if anyone has a checklist and could comment on approx cost of assembling team set of Bears and Packers in midgrade condition?

Fred, thanks for sharing - really nice looking cards!

Thanks in advance!
Jason