Along with the T206 and 1933 Goudey sets, the 1952 Topps issue is one of the most desirable, valuable and timeless sets in the hobby.  Ushering in the golden era of collecting, the set was the largest of its time, both in terms of number and size of cards.  The issue was the first to include color team logos, and the first to include stats from the previous season as well as the player's career.  Today, the 1952 Topps issue is the most widely-collected and valuable postwar baseball card set.  Issued in two series, the first 310 cards constituted the "low number" series, and while the "high number" series carries its own mythology (and both the Mickey Mantle and Jackie Robinson cards), the low numbers are quite desirable in their own right.

Presented here is a near-complete grouping of 305 of the 310 cards from the first series, largely in collector grades.  A condition breakdown of the set would be 5% VG/EX, 23% VG, 39% GOOD, 26% FAIR and the remaining cards lesser.  Key cards in the group grade as follows: #1 Pafko (F), 11 Rizzuto (P), 26 Irvin (G), 33 Spahn (VG), 36 Hodges (P), 37 Snider (G), 59 Roberts (F), 65 Slaughter (G), 88 Feller (G), 91 Schoendienst (G), 129 Mize (VG), 191 Berra (G), 216 Ashburn (G), 243 Doby (F), 246 Kell (G), 264 Lemon (G), 277 Wynn (VG).  Missing for completion are #252, 261 (Mays - featured elsewhere in this auction), 280, 282, and 288.  A near-complete run of 1952 Topps low-number cards, certainly a hobby "holy grail." 305 cards total.