So I started a Mickey Mantle "project"......

[DJCollector1]

So, in my project that has evolved slightly........ I added another pickup in the last few days.
I have been "tinkering" with how I am going to frame this thing, and its "changed sizes" a couple of times, leading to another card or two to include.


I nabbed this '58 Batting Foes Mantle/Aaron this week.
The cell pics don't do it justice, it has excellent image clarity, which is tough for this issue. Snow is almost always a problem.
The centering isn't great, but better image quality on this one was more important to me.







I have room for one more horizontal card, and some of you may have noticed in the BST I am looking for a '55 Bowman.


Hopefully I can find one soon that fits the bill.
This has pretty much come together, and I should be done after one more pick up.......... FINALLY~!

[DJCollector1]

Just got in my last grab for this project, which took longer than anticipated.

Didn't detract from the fun though.



I liked the centering of this '55 Bowman , but it obviously has its faults. (the glare on the right side is just lighting)
There is a slight wrinkle near the bottom that doesn't detract from the card too terribly..... and of course you have the chipping which damn near every '55 Bowman has, at least in varying amounts anyway.

Not the highest grading type, but it fit my bill of the "well worn but respectable appeal" variety.

It was damn tough to find a decent looking '55 Bowman under $200. The vast majority have MAJOR ISSUES but I was really happy with this one.

Now I'm dropping everything off at my local frame shop in a day or two, and it will be good to finally get this thing done and framed so I can enjoy it.

This has been a great "diversion" from all the gloom and doom trimming issues, and more recently the Corona virus and stock market ridiculousness going on.

[Mark70Z]

Very much looking forward to seeing the finished product...

[DJCollector1]

Originally Posted by Mark70Z

Very much looking forward to seeing the finished product...

Thanks........ it's being worked on as we speak.
I dropped it off yesterday, I'm hoping to have it back in hand late next week.

[mr2686]

Looking forward to seeing this great project all framed and matted.

[DJCollector1]

Originally Posted by mr2686

Looking forward to seeing this great project all framed and matted.

Thank you sir~! (and thanks to everyone that has commented along the way)



It's been fun, and a great "getaway" from my usual "snag it , then lock it away" routine.

I slipped by the frame shop earlier this morning, to go over a few specific last minute design possibilities.

I should have it in hand in about 10-12 days he said.

[DJCollector1]

Well this project certainly turned out to be tougher to finish than anticipated.

Tack on a few extra months because of a small, barely noticeable worldwide pandemic........
I just happened to slip by my frame shop, and lo and behold he was open. (Most everything around here has been closed, businesses such as this anyway)

There are a couple tiny things I am not "100%" on, but nothing major.

Overall, definitely pleased by the look, but sadly these phone pics don't quite do it justice. I will likely try and get some better pics in the next day or two, but for now these will have to suffice.







This was a very enjoyable one to complete, although several issues got in the way and drastically held up progress.
Overall I'm satisfied. My own OCD tendencies aside, these cards aren't minty fresh, but that was never the plan anyway.
In many ways I wanted a slightly more worn "vintage" look, but the extremely clean green popped the colors off the cards so well, (when I was considering colors) I went ahead with this layout anyway.
My shop was able to keep the signed index card intact in its slab too, mounted flush, and I was extremely happy with that.
(Not that I plan on reselling, but I DID want to keep that signed card in its slab)

As I alluded to several times in this thread, I know not everyone would choose the issues I did.
But I had different reasons for each, and I ultimately added in a couple of cards late in the game, that I hadn't planned getting early on.

This one has turned out so well, I am debating on starting another.
OR , I may just go back to my occasional "I like that so I'll pick it up" collecting routine.