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 #300, Willie Mays, graded NM-MT 8. 1963 was a down year for Willie, as he hit only 38 home runs and drove in only 103 runs, finishing 5th in MVP voting, winning his 7th out of 10 consecutive Gold Glove Awards, and completing his 10th of 19 consecutive years being named to the All Star Game. Pretty great down year, if you ask me.

His entry into Topps' 1963 set is a portrait of the Giants great in front of a beautiful blue sky. Four beautifully sharp corners and strong edges help frame the perfectly centered image, while the yellow bottom border and red circle inset add a couple helpful pops of color. Registration is nearly perfect, but some ink spots near the left border and overall toning of the card keep it from grading even higher than it already has.

Only 56 of the nearly 3,400 examples graded by PSA have ever received a higher grade than the NM-MT 8 offered here.