Lot # 944: 1951 Topps Red Back Complete Set Pair (2 Sets, 104 Cards)

The 1951 Red Back set is extremely significant as it, and the "blue back" set, were the first major baseball-card sets ever issued by Topps. Offered as a single lot are two complete sets of 1951 Topps Red Backs. This collection consists of the following: 1) 1951 Topps Red Back Complete Set (52): Condition is 25% Nr/Mt to Nr/Mt-Mt, 33% Ex to Ex-Mt, and 42% Vg to Vg-Ex (including a couple lesser). Keys: #1 Berra (Vg), 5 Rizzuto (Vg), 6 Reynolds (Nr/Mt), 8 Wynn (Nr/Mt), 15 Kiner (Ex), 20 D. DiMaggio (Ex), 22 Feller (Ex-Mt), 30 Spahn (Nr/Mt), 31 Hodges (Nr/Mt), 36ab Zernial/Philadelphia in bio (Ex), 38 Snider (Ex due to light wrinkle on reverse), 39 Kluszewski (Ex-Mt), 50 Irvin (Nr/Mt-Mt), and 52b Holmes/Hartford (Vg+). 2) 1951 Topps Red Back Complete Set (52): Condition is 19% Nr/Mt to Nr/Mt-Mt (mostly Nr/Mt), 38% Ex to Ex-Mt, 27% Vg to Vg-Ex, and 16% lesser. Keys: #1 Berra (Gd), 5 Rizzuto (Vg), 6 Reynolds (Vg), 8 Wynn (Fr), 15 Kiner (Vg+), 20 D. DiMaggio (Vg-Ex), 22 Feller (Vg-Ex+), 30 Spahn (Nr/Mt), 31 Hodges (Vg+), 36b Zernial/Philadelphia in bio (Ex), 38 Snider (Fr), 39 Kluszewski (Vg+), 50 Irvin (Nr/Mt), and 52a Holmes/Boston (Ex). The 1951 Red Back Topps set is among the most significant yet overlooked of all early Topps cards, and in our opinion represents an extraordinary value. Total: 104 cards.