AI Appraisal Estimate

This item is a modern collectible trading card from a true crime or historical series, titled 'Assassination of Cermak' at the bottom in a bold, black stylized sans-serif font. The card features a painterly, impressionistic illustration of Anton Cermak, the former Mayor of Chicago, wearing round-rimmed spectacles, a white shirt, and a dark tie. A significant red graphic element, representing an explosion or blood spatter, is stylized in the foreground to signify the assassination event. The card is printed on cardstock with a white or off-white border and appears to be housed in a clear protective plastic sleeve or a professional grading slab, indicated by the reflective glare on the surface and the visible crystalline border on the left side. The artwork uses a muted palette of greys, browns, and blues, contrasted sharply by the vibrant red. The condition appears excellent with sharp corners and no visible surface abrasions, though the protective casing makes a definitive surface assessment difficult. This style of card often belongs to niche sets produced in the late 20th to early 21st century by manufacturers like Eclipse or comic-adjacent publishers focusing on historical disasters or infamous crimes.

I have virtually examined this 'Assassination of Cermak' trading card, which originates from the 1992 Eclipse Enterprises 'True Crime' series (specifically Card #32). The card depicts the 1933 attempted assassination of FDR which resulted in the death of Chicago Mayor Anton Cermak. The artwork is consistent with the stylized, noir-inspired illustrations characteristic of the original 110-card base set. In terms of condition, the specimen appears Near Mint to Mint (NM-MT) based on the sharp corner geometry and clean centering visible through the protective sleeve. The white borders show no signs of 'foxing' or UV-induced yellowing, which suggests proper storage away from direct sunlight. Market-wise, these cards are widely available in the secondary market. Single base cards generally trade in the $5 to $12 range depending on the collector's specific historical interest. While they were controversial upon release, high production volumes in the early 1990s have kept rarity low. Comparables show that unless a card is professionally graded by PSA or SGC at a 'Gem Mint 10' level, its value remains modest. This card serves more as a historical curiosity than a high-stakes investment. Limitations: My assessment is based solely on a high-resolution image. I cannot verify the physical 'tooth' or weight of the cardstock to confirm it is an original 1992 printing rather than a modern reproduction. A physical inspection would be required to rule out surface scratches hidden by the sleeve's glare. Full authentication would involve checking for the specific rosette pattern under magnification to ensure original offset lithography.