Lot # 221: 1953 Topps #82 Mickey Mantle (Secretarial Signature) with JSA LOO

In the 1950s a young New York Yankees fan in Arizona wrote to the club and sought Mickey Mantle's princely autograph. As part of the request, he submitted a 1953 Topps #82 Mickey Mantle that was obtained "the good old fashioned way," through a wax pack at a local "five and dime." The American League club satisfied the boy's request and returned the offered second-year Mickey Mantle that was penned by the slugger's secretary (not by the Hall of Famer himself). The card grades in overall (GD) condition with modest corner wear/wrinkling and a clean back. According to the JSA LOO (Letter of Opinion) the blue ink signature "is a non-malicious vintage secretarial or clubhouse version" that were frequently awarded by team personnel in order to alleviate a backlog of fan requests. Still a fine early example of "The Commerce Comet" with an interesting back history. Full LOO from James Spence/JSA.