Lot # 1371: 1961-1962 Fleer All-Time Greats Near-Complete Set (139/154) Including 10 PSA-Graded Cards Plus 41 Duplicates

Offered is an extremely attractive and mostly high-grade near-complete set of 1961-1962 Fleer All-Time Greats consisting of 139 different cards (out of 154 in the set). Missing the following fifteen cards for completion: #16, 50, 59, 71, 87, 89 Sisler/Traynor, 92, 96, 99, 112, 136, 139, 148, 152 Williams, and 154. Includes forty-one duplicates (#3, 10, 14 Cobb, two 19, 23, 25, 34, 39, 41, 43 Hornsby, 45, 49 Johnson, 56, 60, 69, 72, 76, 78, 81, 84, two 85, 90, 95, 104, 107, 113, 116, 124, 125, 126, 131, 135, 137, 138, three 143, 144, and 149). Issued over a period of two years (#1-88 issued in 1961 and #89-154 issued in 1962), this classic set features all the great stars of the past, including Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Ty Cobb, Honus Wagner, and Cy Young. The 1961-1962 Fleer set is a fairly difficult set to collect. Not only do the cards have some age to them (they are over sixty years old and not getting any younger) but they were issued over a period of two years, exclusively to youngsters in wax packs. Also, the higher-number cards issued in 1962 (#89-154) are considerably rarer than the lower number cards issued in 1961 (#1-88), though both series are much rarer than Topps cards from the same years. 1961-1962 Fleer were issued in modest numbers because most kids were naturally a little more interested in cards of modern stars, such as Mickey Mantle and Willie Mays, than cards of Grover Cleveland Alexander and Hal Schumacher. The same may be true today, but there are many sets featuring modern stars. Few sets present such an interesting cross-section of old-timers (Hall of Famers and non-Hall of Famers) from all eras, or have as important a role in the history of baseball cards as the 1961-1962 Fleer All-Time Greats set. The condition of the near set is 48% Nr/Mt to Nr/Mt-Mt (including a few Mint), 41% Ex to Ex-Mt, and 11% Vg to Vg-Ex (including one Gd). The condition of the duplicates is 12% Nr/Mt, 46% Ex to Ex-Mt, and 42% Vg to Vg-Ex (including three lesser). Ten cards have been professionally graded and encapsulated by PSA. Keys: #1 Baker/Cobb/Wheat (Nr/Mt), two 14 Cobb (MINT 9 and Pr), 29 Frick (MINT 9), 31 Gehrig (Ex), 40 Haines (NM-MT 8), 41 Hartnett (MINT 9), 46 Huggins (MINT 9), 47 Jennings (NM-MT 8), 60 McGraw (NM-MT 8), 66 Newhouser (NM-MT 8), 75 Ruth (NM-MT 8), 83 Walsh (NM-MT 8), 150 Wagner (Gd+), and 153 Cy Young (Nr/Mt). An outstanding mid- to high-grade collection of this classic and often overlooked Fleer issue. The SMR value for just the ten PSA-graded cards is $890. Total: 180 cards (near set of 139 plus 41 duplicates).