August 6, 2020: Summer Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 8/6/2020
Presented is a rare opportunity to pick up a high-grade example of the iconic 1957 Topps Football issue, the company’s first in the now-standard 3 ½-by-2 ½-inch size. This amazing near set is in a condition seldom encountered in mature collections, essentially Ex-Mt to Near-Mint, with five of the important keys third-party slabbed and graded and neatly reflecting the broader condition range. The colorful issue is headlined by a remarkable trio of Rookies – Johnny Unitas – PSA 6, Bart Starr – PSA 4 and Paul Hornung – PSA 6 - plus debut pasteboards of Raymond Berry (PSA 4) and Night Train Lane (PSA 5). It comes out to roughly 33 percent Near-Mint and 45 percent Ex-Mt, with only 28 cards falling below the range, most of those to Excellent and VG-Ex. The missing Nos.: No. 95, 96, 108, 117, 136, 142 and 150. The breakdown: Near-Mint (48) – No. 4, 6 Nomellini o/c, 9 o/c, 10, 13, 14 Summerall, 15, 16 Johnson, 18 St. Clair, 19, 21, 23, 27, 28 Groza, 31 Blanda o/c, 32 Layne, 39, 45 o/c, 47, 48, 52, 53 Ameche, 60, 64, 65 Donovan, 67, 70, 75 o/c, 79, 83, 87, 91, 92 Stautner o/c, 93, 101, 102, 104 o/c, 107, 109 Conerly, 110, 111, 122, 123 o/c, 131, 133, 135, 137 and 139; Ex-Mt (66) – No. 2, 3 McCormack, 7, 11 Brown, 12 o/c, 22 Van Brocklin, 25, 26 Matson o/c, 29, 30 Tittle, 33 o/c, 35 Tunnell, 36, 37 o/c, 38, 40, 41, 42, 43 o/c, 46 Hirsch, 49 Bednarik o/c, 51 o/c, 54, 55, 56 Ane, 57 o/c, 58, 59 o/c, 61, 62, 66, 68 Lary Rookie, 71 Robustelli o/c, 72, 73, 74 o/c, 78, 80, 81, 84, 86, 88 Gifford, 89 o/c, 90 o/c, 98 o/c, 99, 100 o/c, 106 Christiansen, 112 o/c, 113 o/c, 114 o/c, 116, 118, 124 McDonald Rookie, 129 Perry, 132 o/c, 134, 138 Unitas Rookie – PSA 6, 140, 142 – SGC 5, 143, 145, 146 o/c, 148, 149, 151 Hornung Rookie – PSA 6 and 152; Excellent (11) – No. 5 Marchetti, 20 Creekmur, 34, 77, 85 Lane Rookie – PSA 5, 97, 115, 127 o/c, 144, 153 o/c and 154 o/c; VG-Ex (12) – No. 1, 8, 24, 82, 94 Lane Rookie – PSA 4, 103, 105, 119 Starr Rookie –PSA 4, 120, 126, 141 and 147; Very Good (4) – No. 44, 50, 63 and 121; Good (2) – No. 69 and 76 Renfro; Fair (2) – No. 17 (presents Nr-Mt but solitary digit marked on reverse) and 125.
1957 Topps Football High-Grade Near Set, Unitas and Hornung PSA 6 (147/154)
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