March 25, 2021: Spring Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/25/2021
Presented here is an attractive complete set of 1956 Topps Baseball in a binder, the Brooklyn-based company’s final issue in the oversized 2 5/8-by-3 ¾-inch size before switching to the now-standard 2 ½-by-3 ½-inch format in 1957. The offered set is in essentially VG-Ex to Near-Mint condition (92 percent of the total), with the array almost evenly divided between Ex-Mt/Near-Mint (33 percent), Excellent (34 percent), and VG-Ex (25 percent), with only about two dozen cards below. Six key cards have been third-party slabbed and graded: No. 5 Ted Williams – SGC 5, No. 30 Robinson – SGC 5, No. 31 Aaron – SGC 5, No. 33 Clemente – SGC 6.5, No. 135 Mantle – SGC 5 and the 2/4 Checklist – SGC 7. The elegant 1956 Topps set boasts an attractive, uniform and consistent presentation, with good gloss, vivid colors and clean backs. The issue is arguably the greatest card set of the period, picturing that fabled era in a nostalgic fashion that combined marvelous portraits of the players amid verdant backgrounds with “action” images that showcased many of the great ballparks of the period. Breakdown of keys: No. 1 Harridge – Excellent, 2 Giles – VG-Ex, 8 Alston – Very Good, 11 Cubs Team (Centered) – VG-Ex, 15 Banks – Ex-Mt, 20 Kaline – VG, 72 Phillies Team (Centered) – VG-Ex, 85 Indians Team (Left) – VG-Ex, 90 Redlegs Team (Centered) – VG, 95 Braves Team (Centered) – VG-Ex, 100 Orioles Team (Dated) – Good, 101 Campanella – Ex-Mt, 107 Mathews – Ex-Mt, 109 Slaughter – Ex, 110 Berra – Ex, 111 Red Sox – Ex, 113 Rizzuto – VG-Ex, 118 Fox – Ex, 120 Ashburn – VG-Ex, 130 Mays - Ex, 140 Score Rookie – VG, 145 Hodges – VG-Ex, 150 Snider - VG 164 Killebrew – VG, 165 Schoendienst – Ex, 166 Dodgers Team – Ex, 180 Roberts – VG-Ex (autographed), 187 Wynn – Ex-Mt-Plus m/c, 194 Irvin – Ex, 195 Kell – Ex, 200 Feller – Ex (signed in ballpoint), 208 Howard – Ex-Mt o/c, 226 Giants Team – Ex, 240 Ford – Ex, 250 Doby – Ex-Mt o/c, 251 Yankees Team – Good, 260 Reese – Ex-Mt-Plus, 292 Aparicio Rookie – Ex-Mt-Plus and 307 Wilhelm – Ex-Mt-Plus.
1956 Topps Baseball Complete Set, SGC 5 Mantle (342)
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