AI Appraisal Estimate

This is a standard-sized trading card (approximately 2.5 x 3.5 inches) featuring a colorized portrait of the infamous organized crime figure Meyer Lansky. The card is part of the 'Crime Classics' series produced by Eclipse Enterprises in 1992. The front of the card displays a painterly, artistic rendition of Lansky wearing a fedora, white shirt, and dark tie against an amber-toned background. The name 'MEYER LANSKY' is printed in a bold, black, stylized sans-serif font at the bottom within a white border. The artwork is signed with the initials 'POE' near the subject's left shoulder, referencing artist Paul O. Zelinsky. The card is currently housed in a plastic 'Ultra PRO' pocket protector, which obscures some fine surface details, but the card appears to be in excellent condition with crisp white borders, sharp corners, and no visible creasing or silvering. The printing quality is high, characteristic of early 1990s specialty non-sport cards, using coated cardstock with a semi-gloss finish. This set is notable for its historical subject matter and stylized aesthetic, distinguishing it from literal photographic police mugshots.

I have examined the digital representation of the 1992 Eclipse Crime Classics card #67 featuring Meyer Lansky. Visually, the card presents in Excellent to Near-Mint (EX-MT) condition. The corners appear remarkably sharp, the white borders remain bright without significant oxidation, and the artwork by Paul O. Zelinsky (signed 'POE') shows no visible surface wear through the top-loader. The centering appears slightly biased toward the left border but remains within acceptable tolerance for the era. Market demand for the 1992 Eclipse 'Crime Classics' set remains niche. While Meyer Lansky is a high-interest figure in true crime history, the supply of these cards from the early 1990s 'junk wax' era remains relatively high. Individual raw cards typically trade between $3 and $8, though an exceptionally clean specimen such as this may command a slight premium from a specialist collector. Professional grading (e.g., PSA or SGC) could potentially increase the value if a 'Gem Mint 10' is achieved, but the cost of grading currently exceeds the secondary market value of the card. Verification via digital image has inherent limitations. I cannot confirm the integrity of the card's surface texture, the presence of micro-creasing, or the light-refractive properties of the semi-gloss finish. To confirm authenticity and absolute grade, a physical inspection under 10x magnification is required to verify the four-color offset printing rosette pattern and paper fiber composition. A provenance check or purchase receipt from a 1992 release would further solidify its origin, though the low market value makes forgery unlikely.