The 1951 Parkhurst #66 Gordie Howe rookie is one of the most important vintage hockey cards ever produced. This remarkable example has been graded EX 5 by PSA. The 1951-52 Parkhurst set marked the company's debut and was the first major post-war hockey issue. Howe's rookie card stands as its undisputed centerpiece.

The career of "Mr. Hockey" is unmatched for longevity and excellence. He played professionally across five decades, won four Stanley Cups and six Hart Trophies, and retired with 801 NHL goals. That record stood until Wayne Gretzky surpassed it. He was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1972.

The front shows a young Howe in Detroit's red home sweater with the winged-wheel crest, skating toward the camera with his stick on the ice. The image appears against a muted, hand-tinted background. The text beneath identifies him as "Gordon Howe—Detroit Red Wings, Right Wing" and lists his 1950-51 record of 43 goals, 43 assists and 86 points, along with his birthplace of Floral, Saskatchewan. The red line "No. 66 in the 'Parkie' 1951-52 Hockey Series" runs along the bottom. As issued, the card's reverse is blank.

Centering is as good as you can ask for, with only a minor tilt along the top border. The corners are evenly rounded and the background has soiled and toned uniformly. Howe's red uni still pops with solid color and the image of his face remains clear. The back is clean. Surface on both sides is smooth and crease-free. The thin Parkhurst stock rarely survives in this condition. Overall, a well-deserved EX 5 grade. It is housed in an earlier-generation PSA holder and represents a key acquisition for any serious card collection. Encapsulated by PSA (Cert. #14617970).