1983 Topps Wax- To Buy or Not to Buy

Publius1787

I have been fascinated by the rise in 1983 Topps wax boxes in 2020. Last year a box could be had for under $400. Recent eBay sales data shows auction prices for BBCE wrapped 1983 Topps wax selling between $887 - $1000, with a recent FASC box selling for $1,635. BBCE has boxes listed at $925 and OPCBaseball has final sale boxes FASC for $999. As someone who does not have enough 1983 Topps wax I wonder whether it makes sense to buy at these prices? I understand the rise in PSA 10 rookies from this set, but I feel like people buying at these prices are not ripping and submitting for PSA 10. What do you think is behind the rise in prices? I have outlined some reasons below and would be interested in your thoughts? Finally, are you buying at these prices and if so, why?

1. Price rise is due to speculation on unopened 1980s wax.
2. Price rise is due to renewed interest in the 1983 set combined with finite supply.
3. Price rise is due to COVID boredom.
4. Others?

dontippet

I vote for a version of #2. I think part of it is that 1983 Topps has become the wax box to have of the 80's. IMO, for years it was 1984 Donruss, but I think that is changing. Placing 1983 Topps on the top of the list give a lot of renewed interest.

blurryface

id say that '83 wax at $1.1k and $1600 fasc is about right. however it just recently got to these price points. been hinting a while at just how undervalued it was considering its hof rc compared to similar years.

i actually like 83d too. especially considering zero gum.

softparade

1983 Topps is not alone, it has PLENTY of support across the 1980's board. 1984 Donruss is another example and that issue doesn't have near the RC heavyweights that '83 Topps has. Everything has gone way way way up. $75 shipped for a 1987 Topps BBCE FASC wax box? Who the hell ever saw THAT coming.

KendallCat

Agree it is a great set with Gwynn, Boggs, and Sandberg RC’s. Personally if I wanted those players I could grab 3 cards of each player in PSA 9 and have money left over. If I bought a box to rip chances are at best I get one of each and no guarantee on the grades. Either way a good box to have.

grote15

Just wait a few weeks and wait for prices to fall...crisser told me so.

balco758

I’ve been buying some 83 T FASC vending. It isn’t wax or cello, but it costs way less.

grote15

@balco758 said:
I’ve been buying some 83 T FASC vending. It isn’t wax or cello, but it costs way less.

I have a few 78 vending boxes here I bought from a guy who was breaking down a case..I opened one a couple years ago with very nice results and may open another soon. IMO vending is definitely a more viable option for ripping these days as pack prices have risen so significantly.

jordangretzkyfan

1983 Topps is an iconic set, loaded with key HOF RCs and a fairly limited supply remaining. I can assure you that the rip value is not there at $850+ per box, but the box will not get any cheaper. The limited supply coupled with the growing unopened collector’s demand combined with tons of people reentering the hobby will have this BBCE box price pushing $1500-2000 in the next few years.

Publius1787

I will probably pick up another 1983 wax box. But my eyes are certainly gravitating to vending.

Publius1787

In case you are interested in recent 1980 Topps wax box trends I pulled this data from Heritage Auctions. None of the boxes are FASC (except on outlier that may have been but was not stated as such in the auction catalog). I know there are other auctioneers, but Heritage seemed like a good place to start. I plan to do something similar with 1983 Topps if I can find a good source. The two red markers refer to boxes that were not BBCE, they we raw. All other data points were BBCE authenticated.

jordangretzkyfan

Helpful context on the rise of 1980 Topps boxes. Like the chart! The Henderson RC has been on fire of late, which is helping to cement the current box prices. I think 1980 and 1983 Topps will be the boxes most in demand over the foreseeable future. I also think 1985 Topps will start to heat up too given the iconic RCs in McGwire, Clemens, Puckett, Gooden, Davis and Hershiser.

Publius1787

Here is the 1983 Topps wax sales experience. Red data markers mean not BBCE authenticated. An X marker signifies Michigan Test.

coinspacks

Did anyone see that tonight a box of 1977 topps baseball wax sold for $8K ??

wow. prices keep rising.

rtimmer

I think 1993 unopened is a steal compared to 1980 even though that contains the undisputed steal king. I suggest trying to pick up some of the top 3 rookie showing packs compared to wax for their rarity.

blurryface

^ very nice!

'83 also has a few things going for it besides the big 3. it's loaded w some fan favorite rookies like frank viola, willie mcgee & gary gaetti. also contains ripken jrs first pack pulled solo card. not only that, all of these rcs consist of great action shots. seems for the most part, folks tend to like solo rc cards vs floating head or even shared landscaped cards. finally we get the michigan test run cliffs notes to round out the mystique. all in all, i think it's a quality product and only headed in one direction despite what the crisser may forescast.

WaveofCards

Add 83D wax boxes to the inflated pricing list! I purchased a 83D wax box FASC for $280 in Oct 2019. You cannot get a 83D FASC for less than $600 now!

I know a lot of the increase is from channels just like mine, who rip vintage wax. But the rip value is just not there for 1983 anymore, as you can get PSA 9's of all 3 RC's for probably under $300 total!

softparade

@WaveofCards said:
Add 83D wax boxes to the inflated pricing list! I purchased a 83D wax box FASC for $280 in Oct 2019. You cannot get a 83D FASC for less than $600 now!

I know a lot of the increase is from channels just like mine, who rip vintage wax. But the rip value is just not there for 1983 anymore, as you can get PSA 9's of all 3 RC's for probably under $300 total!

Unopened has nothing to do with rip value in the eyes of the ever growing once upon a time small niche of the unopened collector. Like absolutely nothing.

blurryface

@WaveofCards said:
Add 83D wax boxes to the inflated pricing list! I purchased a 83D wax box FASC for $280 in Oct 2019. You cannot get a 83D FASC for less than $600 now!

I know a lot of the increase is from channels just like mine, who rip vintage wax. But the rip value is just not there for 1983 anymore, as you can get PSA 9's of all 3 RC's for probably under $300 total!

rip value? 99.9% of all wax is a losing prop. whether it’s 2020 update or ‘83d. and when you’re talking anything vintage, it’s even more so.

WaveofCards

@softparade said:

@WaveofCards said:
Add 83D wax boxes to the inflated pricing list! I purchased a 83D wax box FASC for $280 in Oct 2019. You cannot get a 83D FASC for less than $600 now!

I know a lot of the increase is from channels just like mine, who rip vintage wax. But the rip value is just not there for 1983 anymore, as you can get PSA 9's of all 3 RC's for probably under $300 total!

Unopened has nothing to do with rip value in the eyes of the ever growing once upon a time small niche of the unopened collector. Like absolutely nothing.

There are those who collect unopened, and also rip it! So I speak from that perspective. But I understand what you are saying, the value in the general market is solely based on how much unopened of a product is left out there. 83T cards and sets are very common, and the unopened wax/vending has become less so.

I once had a friendly argument about ripping vintage wax, with a friend. He was suggesting we really shouldn't rip certain years, etc, and I explained that the market will tell us when it's time to stop opening a certain product, simple S/D. And I think unopened 83 may be talking to us now!