One of sports card collecting's most desired classics is Mickey Mantle's first and true rookie card, the 1951 Bowman #253. Presented here is a signed edition, complete with Mickey’s early autograph style in vintage blue ink. Wow!
The then-prospect Mantle’s card from Bowman's ‘51 series, picturing the promising young Yankee outfielder in a majestic batting pose with a heavenly sky behind him, has captivated generations of collectors and become properly and firmly established as one of the most valuable and desirable of all baseball cards.
Primarily issued with a vertical orientation, 39 of the ’51 Bowman cards were printed horizontally, including two of the most significant cards in the set, Willie Mays and Mickey Mantle. The highly desired set was issued in multiple series and the high numbers (#253-324) are the most challenging to find. This includes both the Mays and Mantle cards. Interestingly enough, Mantle’s #253 card was the first one in that later production run, so someone at Bowman was paying attention that something special was starting to happen at Yankee Stadium.
This particular Mantle card exhibits the innocence and charm of the era, with evidence a youngster inked the rising Yankee star at the time, then taped the signed masterpiece into their scrapbook for safekeeping. Here we are 70 years later and the ’51 Mantle card has more appeal than ever!
Our consignor acquired the card decades ago and it has been in a bank safe deposit box since then, finally seeing the light of day recently and proudly displayed in our Fall Premier Auction after careful PSA/DNA authentication and encapsulation. Now this treasure can be yours!
PSA/DNA AUTHENTIC