1971-72 Topps Roland Taylor #173
Roland Taylor · Topps · Base Card
Player
Roland Taylor
Set
1971-72 Topps Basketball
Year
1971
Card #
173
Condition Grade
PSA 3 (VG) - Centering is slightly off to the right. Corners show significant rounding and softening. Edges have visible chipping and wear. Surface shows age-related toning and some micro-creasing/stretching along the bottom left corner.
Category
Base Card
Manufacturer
Topps
Demand Level
Low/Niche - Mostly sought by ABA completionists or LaSalle University alumni collectors.
Valuation
Raw (Ungraded) Value
$2.00 - $5.00
Graded Value
PSA 3: $10-15, PSA 4: $18-25, PSA 2: $5-8
Comparable Sales
Recent raw sales of common 1971 Topps basketball cards in mid-grade condition range from $1.00 to $4.00. Graded PSA 7 examples of this specific card have recently sold in the $30-$40 range, but lower grades rarely trade above the cost of the plastic slab.
Description
This is a 1971-72 Topps basketball card featuring Roland Taylor of the Virginia Squires (ABA). The card back displays career statistics from his time with the Washington Caps and Virginia Squires, along with a biographical blurb and a cartoon trivia section common to the era. The design features the classic 1971 Topps brown and blue color scheme on the reverse side with card number 173 in the upper left corner.
Key Features
Vintage ABA player representation, historic 1971 Topps design, career statistics from the early 1970s ABA era.
Authenticity Indicators
High confidence. The card exhibits period-correct chipboard card stock, the 'fuzzy' brown ink printing typical of 1970s Topps, and appropriate age-related oxidation. No signs of modern reproduction or bleaching.
Flaws to Note
Soft and rounded corners, edge wear and chipping, slight right-favoring centering on the reverse, and general surface darkening/toning consistent with unpreserved card stock from this era.
Selling Guide
Where to Sell
eBay (as a Buy It Now with Best Offer) or COMC. It is best suited for a 'vintage dollar bin' at a local card show.
Selling Tips
Due to the low value relative to grading costs (~$19+ per card), this card should not be graded. Sell it raw. Use keywords like 'Vintage ABA', 'Virginia Squires', and '1971 Topps'. Bundle it with other 1971 Topps basketball cards if possible to save on shipping and attract a set-builder.