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1934 Carreras Ltd. Footballers #69 — Stanley Matthews Rookie Card — PSA 8 NM-MT — None Graded Higher
Offered here is a stunning high-grade example of the rookie card of Sir Stanley Matthews — the 1934 Carreras \"Footballers\" #69, graded PSA 8 NM-MT (Cert #14728316). Finding any pre-war tobacco card in NM-MT condition is a challenge; finding the rookie card of one of England\'s greatest-ever players in this state of preservation is genuinely special.
Issued by Carreras Ltd. of London with their cigarette packs, this card depicts a young Matthews in his early days at Stoke City, where his legend began. The reverse recounts his schoolboy international appearance against Wales in 1929 and his signing with his hometown club at just sixteen.
Why Matthews matters:
- The \"Wizard of Dribble\" — widely regarded as one of the greatest English footballers of all time
- Winner of the inaugural Ballon d\'Or (1956) — the first-ever European Footballer of the Year
- The only player ever knighted while still playing professional football
- Hero of the legendary 1953 \"Matthews Final,\" delivering Blackpool the FA Cup
- Played top-flight football until age 50 — the oldest player ever in England\'s top division — and earned 54 England caps across a career spanning 1932 to 1965
- Inaugural inductee to the English Football Hall of Fame
Key details:
- Set: 1934 Carreras Ltd. Footballers (Series of 75)
- Card: #69, S. Matthews, Stoke City (1st Division)
- Grade: PSA 8 NM-MT (Cert #14728316)
- Population: Just 5 examples at PSA 8 with none graded higher — tied for the finest known copy in existence. The entire PSA population across all grades is a mere 20 cards.
- Crisp corners, strong color, and clean surfaces — exceptional preservation for a 90+ year old cigarette card
Top-of-population rookie cards of footballing icons essentially never come to market. For the PSA Set Registry collector, the Matthews player-set builder, or anyone assembling a collection of the game\'s foundational legends, this is as good as this card gets — there is no higher grade to chase.
The photos show the actual card you will receive — please review them closely for exact condition of the card and slab.
