Source: BroBible
Summary
A 1951 photograph used to create Mickey Mantle’s 1952 Topps card sold for $3 million, setting a record for a Type I sports photo. The image, taken during Yankees spring training, was developed within two years of being taken, making it highly valuable. A separate 1952 Topps card owned by the same buyer sold for $12.6 million in 2022. The photo’s sale highlights the growing value of original materials behind iconic baseball cards.
Our Reading
The habit gets a new name.
Collectors chase the original photo like it’s a holy relic.
They pay millions for a snapshot that came before the card.
Now the card is just a copy of a copy.
The real money is in the source material, not the product.
Author: Evan Null
