We have made the decision to break up an EXTRAORDINARY 1963 Topps set - the #4 Master Set on the PSA Set Registry. The 1963 set is a particularly difficult set to complete in high grade due to Topps' poor quality control in the era which resulted in considerable print defects. The large and colorful border at the bottom simultaneously lends a distinctive design element and a condition challenge, as they are extremely susceptible to chipping and wear. 

The example offered here is card #380, Ernie Banks, graded NM-MT 8. 1963 was a turning point in Banks' career, the first season since 1954 in which he was not named an All Star. Beyond his knee injuries, Banks also lost a significant portion of the 1963 season to a case of the mumps — he hit just .227/.292/.403 with 18 home runs that year, his worst in the big leagues.

Nevertheless, his entry in the 1963 Topps set is stunningly beautiful, with the red bottom border and blue circle inset perfect complementing the colors of his Cubs uniform and cap. Centering is just east on the canvas, with a minor registration issue in that red bottom border and blue circle inset keeping the card from grading even higher than it already has.

Only 41 of the more than 1,900 examples graded by PSA have ever received a higher grade than the NM-MT 8 offered here.