Lot # 1073: Rare 1953 Glendale Meats Art Houtteman PSA VG 3

Graded VG 3 by PSA. Very appealing mid-grade example of one of the most legendary rarities in all postwar baseball card collecting: Art Houtteman (Detroit Tigers) from the 1953 Glendale Meats series. The Art Houtteman card is extremely rare in any condition and is legendary for being one of the great regional-issue rarities of the era. In the early days of the organized hobby, Houtteman may have had a higher profile than today. It has always been recognized as a very rare card. For a Glendale collector, Houtteman is sort of like the "T206 Wagner of the Glendale Meats set." While the cause of its rarity is the subject of speculation, it is almost certain that Houtteman was intentionally short printed and that this short printing relates directly to the Glendale contest offer presented on the back of each card ("First Prize: Trip for 2 to World Series"). Because of their method of issue, when they are found, Glendales are almost always in very low grade. This well-centered example is bright and crisp with honest corner wear. Boldly printed reverse. Scattered wrinkles and light creases contribute to the assigned grade. This is a very attractive example of legendary regional rarity Art Houtteman.