1952 Topps Look ‘n See | Vintage Vault

Discover A Different Topps ’52 Set

While 1952 is best known for Topps’ iconic baseball card release, the company also introduced a less celebrated yet highly collectible non-sports series: the Look ‘n See set. Although Babe Ruth is the only baseball player featured, the set showcases many of history’s most prominent figures.

Let’s discover the history of the 1952 Look ‘n See set and some of the most popular cards in the set.

1952 Topps Look ‘n See Set History

The Look ‘n See set comprises a 135-card checklist divided into two series. Series 1, consisting of the first 75 cards, is generally easier to find, while Series 2, which includes the remaining 60 cards, is slightly harder to track down.

The set is broken up into different subsets highlighted below:

• Presidents (1-9)
• Famous Americans (10-31) 
• Military Leaders (32-42) 
• Famous Women (43-46)
• Explorers (47-52)
• Wild West (53-63)
• International Leaders (64-67)
• Inventors (68-76)
• Writers (77-79)
• Misc (80-135)

Packs were sold between 1952 and 1956 in the United States and Canada. While the individual cards themselves are indistinguishable between U.S. and Canadian releases, the packaging designs varied, making the packs the only way to differentiate their origin.

Topps U.S. Wrapper(left) and OPC Wrapper (right). Photos Eric Cooper

It has been confirmed that the Look ‘n See cards were printed between February and November of 1952, based on the inclusion of two key cards in the set: Queen Elizabeth II and General Dwight D. Eisenhower. 

Queen Elizabeth II ascended the throne on February 6, 1952, and Eisenhower was elected President of the United States on November 4, 1952, providing a clear timeframe for the card production.

In the set, low-grade commons typically sell for $5–$10, while cards featuring prominent figures can command $30–$50. However, prices escalate significantly at higher grades, such as a PSA 7, driven by demand from Set Registry collectors. This trend is particularly pronounced for cards rumored to have been short printed.

Complete sets typically sell for $1,000–$2,000 at auction, depending on the condition and grade of the individual cards.

1952 Topps Look ‘n See #82 Rembrandt

Rembrandt, is considered one of the “big three” cards to chase in the Look ‘n See set. While it’s often regarded as a “tough” short print, there are over 300 graded copies.

Interestingly enough he has scarcer cards in the late 1800s and early 1900s that go for 1/10th the price of his 52 Look N See. One day, this will change as more collectors dive into foreign issues and pre-war nonsports.

1952 Topps Look ‘n See #104 Queen Elizabeth II

Queen Elizabeth II is one of the “big three” cards in the Look ‘n See set. Contrary to what some collectors might claim, this is not her rookie card, as she had many cards printed in the UK during her childhood.

1952 Topps Look ‘n See #20 Albert Einstein

Unlike most of the figures featured in this set, Albert Einstein was still alive when his card was issued. The renowned scientist, best known for his groundbreaking E=MC² equation, remains one of the most iconic figures in both science and pop culture.

1952 Topps Look ‘n See #15 Babe Ruth

Babe Ruth, one of the set’s “big three,” is the only baseball player featured in the Look ‘n See set. Given the prominence of the baseball market and Ruth’s enduring popularity, his card is the most valuable in the set.

1952 Topps Look ‘n See #4 Abraham Lincoln

Lincoln is the top-selling president in nearly every set he’s featured in.

1952 Topps Look ‘n See #1 Franklin D. Roosevelt

Kicking off the Look ‘n See set is card #1, featuring Franklin D. Roosevelt, the multi-term president who led the United States through the Great Depression and World War II. 

As the first card in the set, it carries a slight premium in value, as collectors often prioritize the first and last cards due to their significance and tendency to show additional wear.

1952 Topps Look ‘n See #45 Amelia Earhart

Amelia Earhart is remembered as the pioneering aviator who disappeared in 1937 while attempting to fly around the world.

1952 Topps Look ‘n See #133 Joan of Arc

Joan of Arc, the famous French saint, is another rumored short print in the Look ‘n See set and one of the last cards in the set.

1952 Topps Look ‘n See #6 Theodore Roosevelt

Another top 5 selling president is Roosevelt, who is highly sought after by both military and presidential collectors.

1952 Topps Look ‘n See #9 George Washington

After Abraham Lincoln, George Washington typically ranks as the second-highest in price among presidential cards in most nonsports sets. However, in the Look ‘N See set, Franklin D. Roosevelt (FDR) outsells Washington. This is largely due to FDR being card #1 in the set and having fewer high-grade examples represented in the population report: only 19 cards graded PSA 8 or above compared to Washington’s 46.

While a PSA 9 Teddy Roosevelt card outsold Washington in 2019, Washington has generally commanded higher prices than Roosevelt across nearly all grades in subsequent years. It’s worth noting that this particular comparison is now six years old, and the nonsports card market has undergone significant changes since then.

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