What would you do?

[edjs]

Originally Posted by marvymelvin

Bear with me as I tell you a story. I got card crazy in the late 80's and early 90's, buying "new stuff" but very aware of the 52 Topps Mantle because it was on the front page of every collecting magazine. I can relate to the excitement about actually seeing one in person. The card reached such iconic status in the 80's-90's that every time I tell people I own one they always say things like, "wow" or "I know the card", "I can picture it in my mind", "the image is burned into my brain" , etc. And these are often non collectors.

Some of you have stated that you don't understand why this card is such a phenomenon. Well it is and that's all there is too it. I don't think that it will fall from grace ever.

Yes it is a double print, but is also a high number low print which balances things out. But the majority of Mantle's available go into collections and are not sold when the owner dies, they are handed down while other items get sold. That's what I plan to do.

For those of you who are waiting for the 52 Topps Mantle bubble to burst, you will be waiting forever. High grade examples are astronomical, and initially lower grade examples were reasonable. But that is changing fast. Yes you will probably have many chances to buy this card, but prices will climb and hold.

I came back into the hobby just a year ago. I am not wealthy, but I had a little money squirreled away. I had an opportunity to buy an iron clad legit raw 52 Topps Mantle from a long time owner (owner for 40 plus years). I thought about it for awhile like you are doing, and decided on the one card over a set or two. I was pretty sure that having the money to buy one would most likely not occur again. I now have it, and have been working on the rest of the 52 Topps Yankees, Yankees Cracker Jacks, NY T222's, NY T206's, NY '48-'53 Bowmans, 1960 Topps Yankees etc etc.

My point being is, I got the most amazing card to say that I own one, and then moved onto other subsets and things to go with it, that match my monthly budget. For the advice that "you can always get a Mantle, keep your set", I say you can always buy 34 Goudeys.

One more piece of advice, some will say that prices will fall as future generation will not be as interested as we are. Reasons given include the idea that they cant relate to the players, cards etc., don't care about the things we care about etc. I remind you that this board is made up of a bunch of T206 fans/collectors/junkies/addicts. I think we all know that they were not born, not even close to the era of T206's.

There will "always" be members of the next generation that will fall in love with the cards and collectibles that we too have fallen in love with. The reality is that with population growth, there will be more of them per capita then now. So there will be more and more collectors from the next generations wanting a 1952 Topps Mickey Mantle. And there are no more originals being printed. (At least not legit ones).

But after all this is only my opinion, and not necessarily yours. My 52 Mantle is not in amazing condition by no means, it is still raw, but feel it is a solid PSA 2. I wouldn't sell it for any reason, not even to upgrade because it was my first, and because of the person I bought it from and the story behind his acquisition, and maybe it is one of a few still legitimately raw. I can picture you holding the 1952 Topps Mantle and saying to yourself "wow". And then continuing with other collecting pursuits with your Mantle as a centerpiece. You will not regret it ever. Trust me.

+1 Well said. If I could say I wouldn't lose sleep over selling my set like you did, then I would rather have the Mantle. Just my thoughts (also, the Mantle is soooo sweet a card, I would give my left you know what to get one, and I do not collect that era at all).