Lot # 1222: 1955 Topps Doubleheaders Complete Set (66)

Presented is a very attractive, mostly mid- to high-grade complete set of all sixty-six cards from the 1955 Topps Doubleheaders series. Doubleheaders are one of the scarcest and most unusual of all early 1950s gum issues. The design of the set was inspired by the T201 Double Folder set issued by Mecca Tobacco in 1911. When issued in packs, the Doubleheaders were perforated horizontally, allowing for easy folding, so that each card could picture two ballplayers sharing the same legs. It is interesting to note that while Topps’ standard issue of 1955 was smaller in number than many other years at just 206 subjects, each of the 132 players in the Doubleheaders issue (two players per card) also appears in the standard set. It is also interesting to note that the backgrounds of the cards, when placed side-by-side, form a continuous stadium background image. Doubleheaders were not aggressively promoted and were sold in very limited numbers. In addition, most of those that did make it into the hands of youngsters were damaged as they were folded and unfolded countless times, as intended. Condition is 16% Ex-Mt to Nr/Mt, 47% Vg-Ex to Ex (including some we are downgrading to Vg-Ex due to barely noticeable glue residue on the reverses), and 37% Gd to Vg (including four lesser). Five cards are graded and encapsulated by PSA. Keys: #3/4 Irvin (Vg-Ex), 25/26 J. Robinson (EX-MT 6), 31/32 Banks (Ex-Mt), 45/46 Kaline (Gd), 53/54 Herman (Gd), 69/70 T. Williams (NM 7), 105/106 Aaron (NM+ 7.5), 109/110 Newhouser (Ex), 111/112 Killebrew (NM 7), 121/122 Kluszewski (Ex), 127/128 Spahn (NM 7), and 129/130 Gilliam (Ex+). This is an outstanding mid- to high-grade complete set of this unusual and often overlooked early 1950s Topps series. The SMR value for just the five PSA-graded cards (factoring in the half grade at the lower whole-grade level) is $2,800. Total: 66 cards.