Whaddya think of this 55 Bowman Mantle? Opinions welcome!

Golfcollector

I was recently selling a large amount of baseball cards on the BST board a few weeks ago. Now the same guy brings me even "more" to sell. Mostly football but still some leftover baseball

Here is a card that escaped the first round of my sales. It is a 1955 Bowman Mickey Mantle, problem is, as is the issue with a lot of his cards, there is writing on the back. This one has a pencil "star"

So...I guess my question is should I send it in to grade it first knowing it will get an MK designation, or should I just try to sell it raw for him? What are the opinions of how this might grade?

Thanks for your comments

Dave

Sean1125

4 mk you are probably going to get about $150-200 graded (Last 4 MC, not mk qualifier sold for 170, I don't think you would get more than $100 raw

Piggs

I would grade the card. What bothers me more than the pencil star is the focus problem on the photo. I agree 4 MK. Nice card

relaxed

I would definitely get the card graded especially since there are 55 Bowman Mantle's out there that are reprints and you don't want any doubt in a buyers mind if its real or a reprint. PM you Dave on a earlier post.

Probstein123

I'd say 5MK....worth slabbing

leadoff4

I was thinking 5 MK as well.

scmavl

A lot of people seem pretty sure it's a 5 but the registry puts me off. I'd say 4-4.5MK. If it were mine, I'd likely sell it raw.

Actually, I'd probably keep it.

MantleMarisFordBerra

I'll echo what others have already said and state that while I could live with the star on the back, the registration on the front would absolutely throw me off. Registration matters to me more than anything (centering, corner wear, wrinkles, marks, etc...)

Bosox1976

Would erasing the star be wrong? I think you wouldn't fool anyone and would still definitely expect to get the MK qualifier, but eye appeal would be improved. Why slab the pencil?

Golfcollector

ooops, double post...sorry

Golfcollector

Not sure if it is OC, it seems like it is centered well enough to be a psa 4-5 card...

Thanks for the feedback. Pretty sure I am going to send it in to grade, The focus looks a little worse with it all blown up and magnified, but yes it is fuzzy on the registration

scmavl

Erasing the star could get you Altered and no grade. Definitely leave it.

MULLINS5

Grade it.