OK, Cardhounds–let’s see if this community can help solve a mystery. I saw an amazing card with what appears to be rock-solid provenance today. And it begs the question . . . is this the earliest known on-card Mantle signature?
I was chatting with my pal Justin Hirsch today. He owns upstart Rabbit Hole Auctions, and wanted to give me a sneak peek at a recent consignment. He knows I don’t get excited too easily, so I was pretty sure whatever he had to show me is top notch.
Of course, we have all seen plenty of Mantle on-card autos. But what makes this one rare is the period Mantle signature. I’m no expert, but the auto sure does resemble the facsimile–which suggests it is very early.
But how early? The back story–and some expert opinions–suggest a 1952 date for the autograph.
I’ve seen several signed ’51 and ’52’s, but most were signed in the 1980’s. And I have seen some vintage / period Mantle signatures on cards, for sure. But no one consulted so far is aware of anything signed on card any earlier than this one.
If you have any knowledge to the contrary, drop it in the comments!
For more of the back story, check out this Baseball Collector / Golden Age of Cardboard podcast:
If you want a crack at this card when it comes to auction, register to bid here. One the form, please select Cardhound Vintage under “How did you hear about us?” This earns me brownie points and a tiny commission.
