311 Mantle - which would you rather have?

[raulus]

It's been a while since our last battle in the great 311 Mantle wars, so I'd say we're due. To that end, I give you the 311 Mantle Challenge.

These two 311 Mantles are currently for sale at a major auction house. Disclaimer: I'm not trying to out an auction! So please don't hate on me for it.

Looking at them closely, they seem to be in fairly similar condition. Maybe some very minor differences if you look reaaaaaaaaaally closely, including some registration differences. Of course, one is a Type 1, and the other is a Type 2, because why not.

Based on the pre-auction estimates, in the current market, one of these is expected to sell for $2M, and the other for $400k.

Can you discern which one of them will merit the ~5x premium?

Bonus question: Is the 5x premium really appropriate based on the differences here?

Bonus bonus question: Try to guess what they will actually sell for when the auction is finally closed.

[ullmandds]

i prefer the top one

[BobC]

#1 - No - $800K/$450K

[raulus]

Originally Posted by BobC

#1 - No - $800K/$450K

I guess we'll see if you're right on those final prices - certainly the AH expects a much bigger spread.

If it's helpful, they are both graded by PSA, and both received a lofty assessment, although they are 1 full grade apart. So there shouldn't be any potential for TPG splits to drive the pricing results.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by raulus

I guess we'll see if you're right on those final prices - certainly the AH expects a much bigger spread.

If it's helpful, they are both graded by PSA, and both received a lofty assessment, although they are 1 full grade apart. So there shouldn't be any potential for TPG splits to drive the pricing results.

Am making an educated guess, and thinking the better centering on the front of the #1/top card adds enough eye appeal to catch a little more attention (ie: money).

Having said that, the backs on both look pretty decent, with the #1/top card's back, though not perfectly centered, definitely more centered than the#2/bottom card. And there's also the very noticeable diamond cut on the back of the #2/bottom card, further detracting from it as well. Not sure about any paper loss on the back, can't really see it. And the fact you said PSA graded these two cards only one full grade apart pretty much tells me PSA didn't see any paper loss either.

One other thing did catch my attention though about the backs. Is it possible the #1/top card got slightly tilted somehow just when they ran the card through for the red ink run, creating a sort of diamond cut effect for just the red print on back, but not for the black print? To see what I'm talking about look at the print on back of both cards, at the bottom and middle of the cards, where the world "Field.", printed in black, sits just to the left of the word "RECORDS", printed in red. There's also a red line printed between those two words. Now look at the letters "l" and "d" in the word "Field.". On the #1/top card, those two letters look like they both touch that red line, but in the #2/bottom card, they don't. And then if you look to the left of the word "Field." you'll see the word "Avg.", also printed in black. Now notice how the bottom of the letter "g" in that word appears to just touch the black line next to it similarly on both cards #1 and #2? And no other letters in the same row as the word "Field." touches that red line on the #1 top/card, which is what got me wondering if the red printing on the back may have gotten printed at a very slightly different angle than the black printing on that #1/top card? Or is this just another difference between the two types of these '52 Topps Mantle cards that no one had mentioned yet?

[x2drich2000]

Based strictly on the fronts, I agree with Pete on the left/top one being nicer due to the lack of tilt, however, that card also has a noticeable red ink smudge/over printing and maybe a speck of paperloss (I can't tell for sure from the scan) on the back.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by x2drich2000

Based strictly on the fronts, I agree with Pete on the left/top one being nicer due to the lack of tilt, however, that card also has a noticeable red ink smudge/over printing and maybe a speck of paperloss (I can't tell for sure from the scan) on the back.

Interesting note about the differences in the backs. I must have missed it!

But here they are, since inquiring minds need to know. Ordering here is the same as in the original post.

[darwinbulldog]

I prefer the second one but only because the Type I/Type II differences impact the eye appeal more for me than the minor condition differences, but I would say the first one is in slightly better condition.

[LincolnVT]

Damn it…I was planning on winning both of these until they were outed…now I refuse to bid.

Originally Posted by raulus

It's been a while since our last battle in the great 311 Mantle wars, so I'd say we're due. To that end, I give you the 311 Mantle Challenge.

These two 311 Mantles are currently for sale at a major auction house. Disclaimer: I'm not trying to out an auction! So please don't hate on me for it.

Looking at them closely, they seem to be in fairly similar condition. Maybe some very minor differences if you look reaaaaaaaaaally closely, including some registration differences. Of course, one is a Type 1, and the other is a Type 2, because why not.

Based on the pre-auction estimates, in the current market, one of these is expected to sell for $2M, and the other for $400k.

Can you discern which one of them will merit the ~5x premium?

Bonus question: Is the 5x premium really appropriate based on the differences here?

Bonus bonus question: Try to guess what they will actually sell for when the auction is finally closed.

[JustinD]

Definitely 1 should be higher as that tilt of the second would drive me insane. Personal opinion.

[irv]

Originally Posted by JustinD

Definitely 1 should be higher as that tilt of the second would drive me insane. Personal opinion.

It's an odd tilt as the image itself doesn't look tilted to me with my 58 yr old eyes, more the border, imo.
Both are definitely beautiful cards but I think I'd still prefer the 8 over the 7 grades aside.