any guess on how many 52 mantles exist??

[Hot Springs Bathers]

I live in a town of under 50,000 and have been collecting since the early 1970s. I know of three gentlemen here in town that own 1952 Topps Mantles and none of these fellows are collectors.

Decades ago I posted ads wanting to buy cards which met with little success but on one occasion I was asked to look at one of these fellows childhood collection. Many 52s including a Mantle. Over the years through my baseball history research people have brought their cards to me to ask what they are worth. Thus the other two Mantles. None are graded, one resides in a top holder the other two in plastic sheets.

If my average sized southern town has three ungraded that I know of there must be thousands out there nationwide. I think the number of ungraded will dwindle when these are passed to heirs who discover their value. All three of these men know the approximate value and could care less. They belong to their youth and have tremendous sentimental value.