1952 Topps EX registry set - can it be done??

alnavman

I was born in 1952 and noticed some auctions with cards listing under $10 to start for this set (lower series, not the high numbers). That said is it possible to put together a set in this condition without selling everything I own???? I've always thought about doing this but was wondering how tough it would be. al.

jradke4

well until you get to the Mantle.

Bosox1976

You could get it done for $50 - 60,000.

cohocorp

at this point in time, to put together a psa 5 1952 topps set, its going to cost your over $50,000 i bet. just my psa 5 mantle and psa 6 mathews was roughly $22,500. eye appeal for the grade is very important. you can buy a really crappy looking, i.e. diamond cut or bad centering psa 5 mantle for $12,000 sometimes while the nicest ones have gone for in the $20,000 range even. the high numbers (311-407) are very difficult while the lowest numbers (1-80) are fairly difficult. the rest are plentiful. if you do the master set, add a few more thousand $ to the mix. another idea might be just to do the set without the high numbers (1-310). in psa 5, it would probably be around $8000 +/- . thats a rough guess of course. be warned, this set is very addictive! about 3 years ago, i first had the idea to put together a set in vg. then i decided to go for vg/ex. fast forward to presnt day and i am i am just finishing up with my set in psa 5.52 (EX+) average. actually i am 2 cards short of the master set minus the campos black star variation. the minimum grade in this set is a psa 5 with the highest grades being psa 7. so approaching the end, i have 3 sets. in addition to that, i constantly have around 50 snipes active trying to pick up more key cards for absolutely no reason whatsoever. i am actually probably about 1/4 the way towards a 4th set including a mantle psa 4. but i am not planning on building anymore sets at this point. keep in mind that since this is considered to be one of -if not the most- historical sets of post war cards, the demand is always large.

jimq112

edited since I read it wrong and thought you were only looking for low numbers.

Including high numbers - yikes!

nam812

Cohocorp sure has a handle on the 1952's in PSA 5. I logged each card in as a PSA 5, and VCP says that the last sale for each card (1 to 407) in the 1952 set without variations (ie black back, Sain, Page, Campos) sold for a combined $52,870.87

Edited to add: I just checked it the same way complete in PSA 4, and the combined sales for all 407 cards equaled $37,691.81 with 20 of the 407 cards showing no pryor sales in PSA 4 since VCP inception. 19 of those were commons and the other one was a high number, so I would say maybe add another $600 give or take to that total making it just over $38,000 in PSA 4.

cohocorp

i interpreted his first statement as just referring to certain auctions with starting prices under $10 which were not high numbers. i thought he was considering the entire 407 card set.

nam812

I also took it as he wants the whole set, and has noticed lower numbers with the low opening bids.

mbothner

Since you are not looking for high grade than I would start off trying to buy a few good size lots of raw cards and resell the cards that you do not want. It might keep the price down until you have to start getting some of the stars and low pop cards. Sometimes in those lots you can get a few nice cards. I got a nice Metkovich # 310 in a raw lot and got a PSA 7 on it.

Ravens124

I started working on my set late last year. As of now my GPA is 6.07, my goal is to keep it above a GPA of 6.00 or better. I've gotten very lucky with my last submission of 52 topps raw cards to psa.
The results are as follows.....

Line # Item # Cert # Grade Description Type Country
1 1 14976000 EXCELLENT 5 1952 TOPPS 3 HANK THOMPSON BLACK BACK Card US
2 1 14976001 EXCELLENT 5 1952 TOPPS 8 FRED MARSH BLACK BACK Card US
3 1 14976002 NEAR MINT 7 1952 TOPPS 64 ROY SIEVERS BLACK BACK Card US
4 1 14976003 NEAR MINT 7 1952 TOPPS 74 ANDY HANSEN BLACK BACK Card US
5 1 14976004 EXCELLENT-MINT 6 1952 TOPPS 124 MONTE KENNEDY Card US
6 1 14976005 EXCELLENT 5 1952 TOPPS 132 CLYDE KLUTTZ Card US
7 1 14976006 EXCELLENT 5 1952 TOPPS 192 MYRON GINSBERG Card US
8 1 14976007 EXCELLENT-MINT 6 1952 TOPPS 198 PHIL HAUGSTAD Card US
9 1 14976008 EXCELLENT 5 1952 TOPPS 221 GRANNY HAMNER Card US
10 1 14976009 EXCELLENT-MINT 6 1952 TOPPS 241 TOMMY BYRNE Card US
11 1 14976010 EXCELLENT 5 1952 TOPPS 240 JACK PHILLIPS Card US
12 1 14976011 EXCELLENT-MINT 6 1952 TOPPS 250 CARL ERSKINE

You can find good deals on EBAY for PSA 6 or PSA 7 cards. It's a set that will take alot of time, money and
patience's when that right card comes along that you are looking for.

baseballfan

i am slowly putting the set (minus high #'s for now) in psa 4-5-6-7 range when they become available, in a certain price range. it's not easy and takes patience to do it on a budget. i figure i will pick up 10-20 cards both raw and graded a year to start, since i have other projects started that need finishing first. once the set gets going it will get more attention from me. it is really a cool set and i hope i can finish it. but i have the time, i hope.
good luck
let us know how's its going, there is a 52 topps set thread on the the forum somwhere that i was posting my pick ups but i was the only one so i stopped. if that thread gets going it sort of drives you to look for the next card. these threads are like a help group for set builders.

alnavman

Here is my response to everyone who has commented: THANK YOU. Seeing that it could be done between 50-60K now seems mind boggling. And if I did start the price I'm sure would reach at least another 10 to 15K by the time I could complete it.....Guess I'll watch the markets and auctions for awhile to see how raw would go. Has anyone had much luck buying raw from any of the major auction houses? Maestro, Mile High, Edwards, etc.??? The more I keep thinking about this the more I am tempted to start.
al.

WinPitcher

Al why not just do the HOF'rs in the set?


Steve

cohocorp

<< <i>Since you are not looking for high grade than I would start off trying to buy a few good size lots of raw cards and resell the cards that you do not want. It might keep the price down until you have to start getting some of the stars and low pop cards. Sometimes in those lots you can get a few nice cards. I got a nice Metkovich # 310 in a raw lot and got a PSA 7 on it. >>



metkovich in psa 7 is a great hit! i would like to hear more on that particular lot with the metkovich if you dont mind sharing the details. i agree that buying lots make it easier, but i would try to buy them already graded, even if to cross over. i had very good success crossing over sgc cards to psa on this particular issue.

for the most part, i never did too well buying raw. often dealers claim the raw cards as 2 grades higher than what they will actually grade. this is especially the case on ebay. in my mind, its pretty much a given now. thats just my experience though.