Hey card guys - need help with going price of a '56 Mantle -

originalisbest

What's the fee these days for a decent ex, ex/mt, or nm #135 - say, a PSA slabbed one.

Never a shortage of these at card shows in Chicago, but only recently have I thought about getting one.

Also, is the white vs. gray back merely an interesting minor aspect, or is it a significant factor in determining a value?



Thanks for the help!

CON40

This card is always popular and sells well in virtually any grade. For a PSA 5 copy, expect to pay $400 or so on eBay. As far as the backs, it'll most likely be a gray back. The white backs in that series are pretty scarce and would most likely double the price of the card as there are a few active white back collectors out there.

Great card! Good luck in picking one up.

SHOOTER56

To add yes the white backs are much scarcier but the grey backs almost always have better eye appeal,also may be difficult to find a well centered example.

originalisbest

Thanks guys, for the info! Seems like an EX 5, grey back would be the way to go for me. I have found (IMO) that I actually prefer the gray backs as well, so just as well for me that in Mantle's case that's the more common of the two. I have noticed with a quick search of completed auctions, two PSA 5 Mantles sold for virtually identical $, both nicely centered. Also, an otherwise identical PSA 5, not as nicely centered, did not sell for an opening bid that was $50 cheaper than the selling price of the other two - I'll keep that in mind.

Sort of related, I remember reading years ago, in (I think) my brother's '81 Beckett - that #'s 1-100 were more common with white backs, and #102-on were more commonly grey - wonder if that's still valid info.

Anyhoo, thanks again for the helpful advice. As a P.S., I think the '81 Beckett saw the entire set of '56 baseball as worth about $350, if memory serves. No regrets though, as I was 10 at the time, and unlikely to have been in the position of acquiring any such set.

And CON40 - you're quite right! Larry Fine IS underappreciated!