The 1956 Topps baseball set was the company's last issue utilizing the 2 5/8" x 3 3/4" format as the 1957 set was shrunk slightly to today's standard size. The issue was similar in design to the 1955 set but was significantly larger in terms of number of cards. While the 1955 set is a landmark set due to the popularity of that season and the number of important rookie cards included in the set the 1956 set is popular due to the beauty of design and the large number of stars and Hall of Famers included in the set. This complete set of 340 cards was assembled in the 1990s by a collector for whom the 1956 set had tremendous sentimental value; it was the first set that he collected as a boy. As such he took great care to assemble an attractive set; even the lower-grade cards in the set are spectacular with rich color and beautiful registration. Centering was also important to the collector; while the cards often exhibit the centering issues frequently associated with the 1950s Topps quality control centering issues are found much less frequently in this collection. While the cards may grade technically in the lower registers (3% EX-MT 21% EX 35% VG/EX 39% VG 2% lesser) the set is truly beautiful with bright clean images and great care taken with each card. Nine of the set's key cards have been graded by PSA. Key cards grade as follows: #5 Ted Williams (PSA VG/EX 4); #10 Warren Spahn (VG/EX); #15 Ernie Banks (PSA VG 3); #20 Al Kaline (VG); #30 Jackie Robinson (PSA VG+ 3.5); #31 Hank Aaron (PSA VG/EX 4); #33 Roberto Clemente (PSA EX 5); #79 Sandy Koufax (PSA EX+ 5.5); #101 Roy Campanella (PSA EX 5); #107 Eddie Mathews (F); #110 Yogi Berra (VG/EX); #120 Richie Ashburn (VG); #130 Willie Mays (PSA EX-MT 6); #135 Mickey Mantle (PSA VG/EX 4); #150 Duke Snider (VG/EX); #164 Harmon Killebrew (VG); #200 Bob Feller (VG); #240 Whitey Ford (G); and #260 Pee Wee Reese (VG). The VCP value of the nine cards graded by PSA alone is more than $1 300. This is a beautiful set assembled carefully by a diligent collector with a deep connection to the issue. Clean presentable and very pleasing to the eye an outstanding example of one of Topps' most beautiful 1950s issues.