Lot # 1537: 1961 Topps Near-Complete Master Set (592/596) Including 76 PSA-Graded Cards

Presented is an extremely attractive near-complete master set of 1961 Topps baseball consisting of 592 different cards (out of 596 in the master set). In addition to the 587 cards in a basic set, nine variations are recognized by PSA in the master set listing on the PSA Set Registry (print variations for cards #47 and 492 as well as seven checklist variations on cards #98 [2], 189, 273, 361, 437, and 516). Included are five checklist variations (#98a, 98b, 189, 273, 361, and 437). Missing only four variations (#47b, 98c, 492b, and 516b) for completion of a master set. This is a very sharp-looking set of one of the era's most popular issues, crisp and clean throughout. The 1961 Topps set includes five different Mickey Mantle cards and was Topps' first venture into the popular League Leader subset. The Most Valuable Player subset, an extremely difficult high-number run, and the rookie cards of Juan Marichal, Billy Williams, and Ron Santo also highlight this set. Seventy-six cards have been professionally graded and encapsulated by PSA. PSA Grading Composite: MINT 9 (5 cards): #123 (PD), 211 Gibson (OC), 460 Hodges (OC), 472 Berra MVP (OC), and 482 Mays MVP (OC). NM-MT+ 8.5 (1 card): #574 Aparicio AS. NM-MT 8 (26 cards): #10 B. Robinson, 140 (PD), 141 B. Williams RC, 150 Mays, 200 Spahn, 287 Yastrzemski (OC), 371 Skowron, 388 Clemente (OC), 417 Marichal RC (OC), 475 Mantle MVP, 478 Maris MVP (OC), 517 McCovey, 524, 527 (OC), 544, 545 Wilhelm, 546 (OC), 554 (OC), 559 (OC), 565, 568 Skowron AS, 573, 579 Mays AS, 583, 584, and 585. NM+ 7.5 (2 cards): #44 AL HR Ldrs and 575 Banks AS. NM 7 (28 cards): #120 Mathews, 182, 300 Mantle, 307 Mantle WS Gm. 2, 360 F. Robinson, 406 Mantle Blasts HR, 429 Kaline, 440 Aparicio, 471 Rizzuto MVP, 480 Campanella MVP, 484 Aaron MVP, 485 Banks MVP, 536, 537, 540, 541, 543, 547, 553, 555, 557, 570 Fox AS, 571 Mazeroski AS, 572 B. Robinson AS, 576 Maris AS, 578 Mantle AS, 581 F. Robinson AS, and 589 Spahn AS. EX-MT+ 6.5 (2 cards): #531 and 577 Aaron AS. EX-MT 6 (8 cards): #2 Maris, 228 Yankees Team, 260 Drysdale, 415 Aaron, 439, 542, 561, and 580 Kaline AS. EX+ 5.5 (2 cards): #539 and 582. EX 5 (2 cards): #528 and 586 Ford AS. The condition of the 511-card unencapsulated balance is 49% Nr/Mt to Nr/Mt-Mt (including some bordering on Mint), 46% Ex to Ex-Mt (many due solely to centering), and 5% Vg to Vg-Ex (including one lesser and a couple with a slight miscut). Unencapsulated Keys: #35 Santo RC (Nr/Mt+), 80 Killebrew (Ex-Mt), 160 Ford (Ex+), 290 Musial (Ex), 344 Koufax (95/5 T/B, otherwise Nr/Mt-Mt), 350 Banks (Ex), 401 Ruth Hits 60th (Ex due solely to centering), 405 Gehrig Benched (80/20 T/B, otherwise Nr/Mt-Mt), 425 Berra (80/20 T/B, otherwise Nr/Mt-Mt), and 443 Snider (Ex). 1961 will always be remembered as a "magical year" in baseball history, and a beautiful high-grade complete set of 1961 Topps as offered here will always be a highly prized "time capsule." The SMR value for just 62 of the PSA-graded cards (not including the 14 PSA-qualified cards and factoring in the seven half grades at the lower whole-grade level) is $10,347. Total: 592 cards. The size/weight of this item requires that there will be an additional shipping charge for this lot.