Heritage Rosen Mantle - Greatest Card Ever Auctioned?

[ruth-gehrig]

Originally Posted by Buythatcard

Why does Heritage say that the card is the Finest Known Example? It's graded SGC 9.5 which is a Mint+. In a recent SCD article written about Marshall Fogel. He says that he owns a PSA 10 version of that card which is a Gem Mint.

I always thought that a Gem Mint was better than a Mint+. So, wouldn't that mean the card owned by Fogel is considered the Finest Known Example?

I wouldn't mind owning either one of the 2 cards but I am just curious.

I believe they are using Rosen's 1991 direct quote which at the time was the "finest known example".

[Johnny630]

I think this SGC 9.5 Example has the best centering and blue color out of the three PSA 10's. All are beautiful :-) and deserve their said assigned grades.

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

I think this SGC 9.5 Example has the best centering and blue color out of the three PSA 10's. All are beautiful :-) and deserve their said assigned grades.

It's sometimes hard to judge color on these due to scan/picture settings, particularly Heritage's.

[chriskim]

Originally Posted by Peter_Spaeth

It's sometimes hard to judge color on these due to scan/picture settings, particularly Heritage's.

Bingo! (Not saying this nice Mantle....) Heritage has a separate photoshop team enhancing their images.... creases can disappear, faded colors got enhanced to pack fresh stage.

[pokerplyr80]

Originally Posted by ruth-gehrig

I believe they are using Rosen's 1991 direct quote which at the time was the "finest known example".

Well I believe it's assumed all of the very high grade Mantles came from that find. Rosen is probably the last one to see them all together. But the flip could also be referring to this being the finest SGC graded example.

[MattyC]

Jesse, the flip is referring to and quoting Rosen's words from the letter he wrote about this very card. It's a nod to the provenance, as opposed to a reference from SGC about the card's grade. Just clarifying.

[pokerplyr80]

Originally Posted by MattyC

Jesse, the flip is referring to and quoting Rosen's words from the letter he wrote about this very card. It's a nod to the provenance, as opposed to a reference from SGC about the card's grade. Just clarifying.

Makes sense. Since he did see them all together he would have had the best chance to identify the finest example. Hard to imagine a better looking 52 Mantle. If I hit tonight's mega millions I will be bidding.

[Yoda]

While it was eons ago, I remember well opening multiple packs of the last series '52 Topps, or as many as my meagre allowance at the time would allow, in a vain search for the Mick. My hometown growing up was Schenectady, NY, which seemed to have been blessed with an abundance of the ultimate series due to whatever geographical distribution Topps planned. I found Campy, Pee Wee, Jackie and Eddie without any trouble, but, oh, that Mantle eluded me. I already had the '51 Bowman, which I had found in a pack the prior year when the cards bug infected me (still infected) and knew i had to have the '52 Topps. Despite all the time since then, I have never owned one. Ted, you were one lucky Dude when you grabbed that mystical pack. If it couldn't be me, I am glad it was you. John

[MattyC]

Originally Posted by Yoda

While it was eons ago, I remember well opening multiple packs of the last series '52 Topps, or as many as my meagre allowance at the time would allow, in a vain search for the Mick. My hometown growing up was Schenectady, NY, which seemed to have been blessed with an abundance of the ultimate series due to whatever geographical distribution Topps planned. I found Campy, Pee Wee, Jackie and Eddie without any trouble, but, oh, that Mantle eluded me. I already had the '51 Bowman, which I had found in a pack the prior year when the cards bug infected me (still infected) and knew i had to have the '52 Topps. Despite all the time since then, I have never owned one. Ted, you were one lucky Dude when you grabbed that mystical pack. If it couldn't be me, I am glad it was you. John

John, thanks for sharing this insight into what it was like back then. Truly, alongside Ted's experience, one of the coolest perspectives I've absorbed here. Many of us born in the 70s and 80s, who grew up staring at the 52T set in the likes of Beckett and CCP guides, have imagined as boys (and even as men!) opening those packs when they were the current cards out. Amazing.

Best,

MC

[Republicaninmass]

There appears to be a stain on the top center. Still a sharp card. 9.5....ok

[GasHouseGang]

I see what you're talking about.

[JollyElm]

Originally Posted by GasHouseGang

I see what you're talking about.

Geez, all of the Mantles cards I've had graded come back with ("MEH") on the label.

[puckpaul]

Definitely curious that SGC was used. I think that is a huge boost to SGC since i cannot recall a top top card like this in an SGC holder. Any others?

[Republicaninmass]

It's a great card, but there is toning/staining that just cant be ignored. Someone will buy the flip for the bragging rights.

[mrreality68]

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

It's a great card, but there is toning/staining that just cant be ignored. Someone will buy the flip for the bragging rights.

Agreed about the stains and agreed this card will be about the bragging rights

[Johnny630]

Since Multiple people are brining up staining... I have one question to them, What grade would you give it?? To me, this card deserves a SGC 9.5.

[darwinbulldog]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

Since Multiple people are brining up staining... I have one question to them, What grade would you give it?? To me, this card deserves a SGC 9.5.

If I had submitted it I would have been hoping for an 8. That's what I would have graded it myself. And a fine looking 8 it would be.

[G1911]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

Since Multiple people are brining up staining... I have one question to them, What grade would you give it?? To me, this card deserves a SGC 9.5.

SGC’s standards seem to make it a 7 at best.

A card better than mint does not have obvious and significant staining, under any grading companies criteria.

[MattyC]

Originally Posted by Johnny630

Since Multiple people are brining up staining... I have one question to them, What grade would you give it?? To me, this card deserves a SGC 9.5.

I could not agree more. To my eyes, this card is one of the prettiest 311s I have ever seen, with the toning in that top border or not. I see this as a case of the card meriting the grade and not someone merely buying a flip. I think if someone is paying attention to the flip on this one, they are focusing their eyes on the wrong thing. It's a beautiful card IMO.

Also, in my experience, a flaw like the one that has been pointed out— such things seem glaring when enlarged in a scan, yet in hand, in real, daily life, they are not bothersome, at least to me. I've been on the fence about cards from something I became fixated on in a scan, and then when I received the card in hand, I was happily impressed by how what I thought could have been an issue for me was no issue at all. In short, scans and enlargements can often be distorting/misleading. My hunch is that is the case with this beauty and that in hand it would not disappoint.

In sum, I just cannot hate on this card. As a huge proponent of "buy the card" and someone who has never needed high grade to be totally satisfied, if I had the means I would buy this one in a heartbeat and love looking at it in hand every day til I croaked.

[cannonballsun]

Originally Posted by puckpaul

Definitely curious that SGC was used. I think that is a huge boost to SGC since i cannot recall a top top card like this in an SGC holder. Any others?

SGC already has the highest priced card ever sold, the SGC 3 T206 Wagner that sold last year in REA.
With this card, SGC will have the two highest ever. Take that, PSA.

[cannonballsun]

Here's the pics

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by cannonballsun

SGC already has the highest priced card ever sold, the SGC 3 T206 Wagner that sold last year in REA.
With this card, SGC will have the two highest ever. Take that, PSA.

Yes but it won't change the fact that 90 percent of cards in SGC holders will sell for less, and frequently much less, than the equivalent PSA.

[Jewish-collector]

My guess is that this guy might want it for display in New York:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Cohen_(businessman)

[Peter_Spaeth]

Originally Posted by Jewish-collector

My guess is that this guy might want it for display in New York:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Cohen_(businessman)

He is a part owner of PSA though.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by cannonballsun

SGC already has the highest priced card ever sold, the SGC 3 T206 Wagner that sold last year in REA.
With this card, SGC will have the two highest ever. Take that, PSA.

Doesn't Ken Kendrick still own the Gretzky T206 Wagner, and a PSA10 '52 Topps Mantle? Wait till he passes and those come up for sale and then we'll see about which TPG has the most expensive cards ever sold. LOL

[jchcollins]

Originally Posted by BobC

Doesn't Ken Kendrick still own the Gretzky T206 Wagner, and a PSA10 '52 Topps Mantle? Wait till he passes and those come up for sale and then we'll see about which TPG has the most expensive cards ever sold. LOL

If they get sold. Ken's been on record multiple times saying his cards will remain with him until death at which point his son inherits them. And, like any respectable red blooded teenage American boy, it's been had on good authority that the junior Kendrick isn't ever selling THE Honus Wagner card!

[BobC]

Originally Posted by jchcollins

If they get sold. Ken's been on record multiple times saying his cards will remain with him until death at which point his son inherits them. And, like any respectable red blooded teenage American boy, it's been had on good authority that the junior Kendrick isn't ever selling THE Honus Wagner card!

Figures. LOL

My guess is that card is not just famous, it is now infamous due to the Mastro story and his imprisonment, and would likely eclipse the price of any other card ever sold.

Plus, aren't there actually three different PSA 10 Mantles from the '52 Topps set, all with no qualifiers? Chances are one of the other two will eventually show up for sale then. Can only guess what one of those would possibly bring at auction.

[Belfast1933]

Sorry to disappoint but I just had to get this one so bought it from Heritage while I was at their booth today…

(Had to increase my credit limit just a smidge)