HOLIEST GRAIL MAURICE STOKES Signed 1957-58 Topps RC Royals HOF PSA/DNA Authe For Sale

INTRODUCTION: In the field of collecting signed sports gum/trading cards, some are easy, some are tough, some are rare, and some are extremely rare. The you\'ve got another category, some that are almost impossible. They are the HOLY GRAIL of this field. There are very few cards that fit into that exclusive category, with almost all of them being cards where the subject passed away shortly after the card was issued, generally in the same year or season. As a rule of the thumb, the earlier the issue year of the card, the harder it is to find, in part because there were fewer collectors. Most of these HOLY GRAIL cards are in baseball - simply put - it\'s cards you think may not even exist - ones you think you will never see. Some of the cards in that category that come to mind are the 1966 Topps Chuck Dressen, the 1967 Topps Walt Bond and the 1972 Topps Roberto Clemente. You would think I would put the 1964 Topps Fred Hutchinson and the 1970 Topps Herman Hill in that category but, surprisingly, I know of at least three or four authentic versions of each that are in existence. In hockey, the 1969-70 Terry Sawchuk comes to mind. Any card in this exclusive category is highly desirable, but when it is a Hall of Famer, it is in yet another level. The you\'ve got basketball. Basketball is in a totally different league than the other sports when it comes to rare signed cards simply because not anywhere near as many people collected basketball autographs as they did other sports.

DESCRIPTION: I am pleased to be able to offer possibly the RAREST signed sports gum card in history - an authentically autographed 1957-58 Topps basketball ROOKIE CARD of former NBA forward and Hall of Famer MAURICE STOKES - card #42. Stokes has signed this card in blue ballpoint pen. Card condition is NM. Most people are aware of Stokes\' tragic story, his injury in March of 1958 which left him paralyzed. There was a window of about five or six months in which this card could have been signed. I have never seen or heard of another and it is my belief that this is the only one in existence. This is the only Topps card he ever appeared on, providing even greater significance to the importance of this card. This card is surely the HOLIEST of all HOLY GRAIL signed sports cards.
AUTHENTICITY:CARD HAS BEEN AUTHENTICATED BY PSA/DNA AND COMES WITH PSA/DNA FULL LETTER OF AUTHENTICITY.
HOW OBTAINED: I am obtained this card a number of years ago from the original recipient who obtained it in-person after a game. SHIPPING: FREE. Items shipped first class mail, with delivery confirmation/insurance. I do combine shipping fees, no additional charge for additional items.
PAYMENT: Pay Pal is accepted. I also accept other forms of payment, feel free to inquire.
BACKGROUND: A pioneer in the autograph field, I have six decades of first-hand autograph experience. I began collecting autographs in-person in 1960, and have collected ever since - all sports, music, politics and more. I am a well-known and respected figure in the autograph field, known as \"The King of Autographs\" (KOA.)
PROVENANCE: Many signed items offered come with provenance (knowledge of history and origin of the item) - and of those, many were obtained personally by myself and others were obtained by longtime collector friends. This is an added bonus that very few sellers are able to provide.

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