Few players capture the attention of high-end hobbyists as Mickey Mantle does, and this 1951 Bowman Rookie card deserves its spot in the pantheon of elite offerings. Encapsulated by PSA with a NM-MT 8 grade, that is only part of the story as four sharp corners, clean surface, and a magnificent illustration-from-photo of The Mick make this one of the most sparkling examples to come to market. This is further evidenced the the POP report listing 53 at this grade and just 10 higher in existence. Only the most minute tilt to the centering is evident and all of the other elements point to a card which could easily have otherwise earned a higher grade. Additionally, the '51 Bowman set is widely considered the best of its run with an extensive 324-cards which also includes the coveted Willie Mays Rookie (a high grade version of which is available elsewhere in this auction). Whether trying to fill a vacant slot in a collection, looking for an upgrade, or just celebrating the greatness of the Yankees slugger himself, a future opportunity to acquire a card of this caliber is likely to be few and far between.

Estimate: $350,000-$400,000