Topps 216 Montana Appraisal

1981 Topps Joe Montana Rookie Trading Card #216

This is a 1981 Topps football trading card featuring Hall of Fame quarterback Joe Montana of the San Francisco 49ers. As Montana's primary rookie card, this is one of the most significant sports cards of the post-war era. The card features a vertical orientation with a central action photograph of Montana in his red 49ers uniform and silver helmet, positioned within a double-line gold border. The legendary 'Topps' logo is visible in the upper-left corner. At the bottom, a graphic of a football helmet and player position 'QB' are seen alongside his name. The card is printed on standard 2.5 by 3.5 inch cardboard stock common to the early 1980s. Physically, the card is encased in a protective plastic 'top loader' sleeve and displayed on a stand. Visible condition indicators show fairly sharp corners and decent centering, though the image clarity and focus are somewhat limited by the low resolution of the photograph. There are no obvious surface creases or stains visible through the acrylic holder. The color saturation appears consistent with the original 1981 production run, showing the distinct orange-red hue of the Niners' jersey and the warm tones of the background. The reverse side, although not visible, would contain career collegiate statistics and a personal profile.