March 24, 2022: Spring Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 3/24/2022
Presented is a high-grade near set of the important 1972 Topps Basketball issue, the second year in a row that Topps produced cards in the standard size rather than the oversized cards from 1969 and 1970 that marked the company’s return to the basketball arena after a 12-year absence. The offered near set is in outstanding condition, essentially Near-Mint to Near-Mint to Mint, with exceptional color and gloss and a dramatic, consistent presentation. Missing barely more than two dozen cards, albeit often including some of the key cards from the issue, the near set marks a great opportunity to pick up 90 percent of a complete set from a popular early-1970s production. The breakdown of keys: No. 5 Maravich – Very Good, 7 Cowens – Ex-Mt, 15 Lucas – Near-Mint, 21 Unseld – Nr-Mt, 25 Robertson – Nr-Mt-Plus, 28 Thurmond – Nr-Mt, 30 Hawkins – Nr-Mt-Plus, 35 Bing – Nr-Mt, 44 Barry – Ex-Mt-Plus, 73 Monroe – Ex-Mt-Plus, 75 West – Nr-Mt-Plus, 97 Bellamy – Nr-Mt, 115 Archibald – VG, 122 Bradley – VG-Ex, 150 Hayes – Nr-Mt, 161 Havlicek All-Star – Excellent-Plus, 164 West All-Star – VG-Ex, 168 Chamberlain All-Star – Nr-Mt-Plus o/c, 176 Assists Leaders – VG-Ex, 195 Erving Rookie – SGC 5, 215 Cunningham – Ex-Plus, 230 Issel – Nr-Mt-Plus and 264 Assists Leaders – VG-Ex. The missing numbers (26): No. 1 Chamberlain, 32 Jackson Rookie, 42, 60 Frazier, 72, 74, 78, 100 Abdul-Jabbar, 110 Havlicek, 129 Reed, 146, 155, 159, 160, 163 Abdul-Jabbar All-Star, 167, 172, 180 Gilmore Rookie, 183 McGinnis Rookie, 192, 226, 249, 254, 255 Erving All-Star, 257 and 263.
1972 Topps Basketball Near Set, Erving Rookie SGC 5 (238/264)
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