The 1955 Topps baseball card set is one of the most iconic and valuable vintage issues in the hobby. Containing 524 cards across 16 teams, the ’55 Topps set featured many of the game’s biggest stars from that era including Mickey Mantle, Willie Mays, and Hank Aaron. Given its historical significance and the fact that it was one of Topps’ earliest major issues after obtaining the MLB license in 1950, 1955 Topps cards hold a special place in the hearts of collectors.
Now over 65 years old, surviving 1955 Topps cards in high grades have become exceedingly rare. As a result, grading services like Professional Sports Authenticator (PSA) have become an essential part of the collecting and trading process for this classic set. PSA is widely considered the gold standard for third-party grading of sports and non-sports cards due to its reputation for consistency, strict standards, and impact on secondary market values.
For collectors looking to accurately assess condition or sell high-end 1955 Topps cards, submitting to PSA has become de facto. Here is a deeper look at what to expect from the grading process and population report data for this beloved vintage issue.
Condition standards for 1955 Topps at PSA are extremely stringent given the age of the cards. Even minor flaws can result in lower grades. To achieve the coveted and iconic “GEM MT 10” black label perfect grade, a card must be pristine with no creases, corners or edges that have been touched. Centering must be precise with no color-breaking flaws on either the front or back. Surface must be clean and free of any printing imperfections visible even under high magnification. Needless to say, true GEM MT 10 1955 Topps cards are exceptionally rare.
Most 1955 Topps cards submitted to PSA will grade somewhere between 1-8. Cards in the 5-7 range with minor edge/corner wear and perhaps a touch of whitening on the back are quite common. Anything graded an 8 is considered very nicely preserved for a 65+ year old issue. Nines are truly exceptional with only light storage-type wear evident under close inspection. Tens as mentioned are essentially unobtainable outside of potentially re-cut or doctored examples.
According to PSA’s population report data, the overall return rate for 1955 Topps submissions is around 30% graded cards. The remaining 70% either cross over or are not considered gradable for various flaws. Of the graded population, here are the current count breakdowns by grade:
GEM MT 10: 3
MT 9: 117
MT 8: 1,245
MT 7: 4,111
MT 6: 5,749
MT 5: 7,270
MT 4: 4,849
MT 3: 2,721
MT 2: 1,344
MT 1: 552
As you can see, sevens dominate the population report followed distantly by eights and below. The extreme rarity of nines and tens is readily apparent. In terms of value, PSA 10 1955 Topps cards if/when they surface at auction frequently sell for six figures or more due to their unobtainable status. Nines hold values in the thousands to low five-figures, while choice eights can still command four-figures for key stars and scarce short prints.
Obtaining a PSA grade is essential for accurately assessing condition, authenticity and value of high-end 1955 Topps cards. The population data shows just how difficult it is to achieve high marks given the exacting standards required to preserve the fragile cardboard after 65+ years of storage and handling. But for discerning vintage collectors, a PSA slab brings peace of mind and helps ensure only the finest examples change hands in the competitive marketplace for this truly iconic baseball card set.
