Lot # 943: 1951 Topps Blue and Red Backs Complete and Near-Complete Set Pair (2 Sets, 102 Cards)

The 1951 Red and Blue Back sets are extremely significant as these were the first major baseball-card sets ever issued by Topps. Offered as a single lot are a complete and near-complete set pair 1951 Topps Red Backs and 1951 Topps Blue Backs. Also included is an original Red Back wrapper in Very Good condition. 1) 1951 Topps Red Back Near-Complete Set (50/52) Plus One Duplicate: 7% Vg-Ex to Ex, 63% Gd to Vg, and 30% Pr to Fr. Missing two cards for completion (#1 Berra and 45). Includes one duplicate #11. Keys: #5 Rizzuto (Vg), 6 Reynolds (Gd), 8 Wynn (Pr-Fr), 11 Hermanski (SGC VG/EX 50), 15 Kiner (Gd), 20 D. DiMaggio (Gd+), 22 Feller (Vg), 30 Spahn (Pr-Fr), 31 Hodges (Pr-Fr), 36b Zernial/Philadelphia in bio (Vg), 38 Snider (Pr), 39 Kluszewski (Vg), 50 Irvin RC (Gd) and 52b Holmes/Hartford (Gd+). 2) 1951 Topps Blue Back Complete Set (52): 7% Nr/Mt or better, 23% Ex to Ex-Mt, 56% Vg to Vg-Ex, and 14% lesser. Keys: #1 Yost (Gd), 3 Ashburn (Vg), 6 Schoendienst (Vg), 9 Sain (Vg-Ex), 10 Page (Gd), 20 Branca (Nr/Mt-Mt), 30 Slaughter (Ex), 37 Doerr (Vg-Ex+), 39 Lopat (Vg-Ex), 45 Pierce (Vg-Ex), 50 Mize (Ex+ due solely to centering), and 52 Chapman (Ex). The 1951 Red and Blue Back Topps sets are among the most significant yet overlooked of all early Topps cards, and in our opinion, they represent an extraordinary value. Total: 103 cards.