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Topps Tiffany Question

70chip70chip Posts: 797
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
This may be a stupid question and I apologize for that up front, but whats the deal with Topps Tiffany? Are they more scarce? higher quality? Why the premium on prices? I appreciate those who will reply and "educate" me on this issue!!
Collecting Interests:
Ripken, Brooks & Frank Robinson, Old Orioles, Sweet Spot Autos, older Redskins - Riggins, Sonny, Baugh etc and anything that catches my eye. image

My ghetto sportscard webpage...All Scans - No Lists!!! Stinky Linky

Comments

  • pandrewspandrews Posts: 7,598 ✭✭✭
    the only difference I know of is that they have a glossier finish to them and a brighter back (at least in the 1980's). I believe they are quite a bit more scarce than regular topps issues.
    ·p_A·
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,407 ✭✭✭✭✭
    70Chip
    Topps started the Tiffany sets in 1984 thru hobby dealers only - 10,000 sets were made - white stock and glossy fronts. The nickname 'tiffany' was supposedly coined by collectors to identify this topps version. In 1985 they stopped the presses at 5,000 sets. If you remember, these were going for big bucks when McGwire was hitting them out at warp speed.
    Mike
    Mike
  • 70chip70chip Posts: 797
    Pandrews and Stone, Thank you for your reply's regarding my question. One followup, Is the Tiffany designation marked on the back of the card? I have seen a few Tiffany auctions on "the bay" and the front of the card just says "Topps" ? Thanks Again!!!
    Collecting Interests:
    Ripken, Brooks & Frank Robinson, Old Orioles, Sweet Spot Autos, older Redskins - Riggins, Sonny, Baugh etc and anything that catches my eye. image

    My ghetto sportscard webpage...All Scans - No Lists!!! Stinky Linky
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,407 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Chip
    According to SCBC, it states in the section on the 85 set that other than the white stock and glossy front - no difference between the base and tiffany sets - value? They say 6X on base set.
    If memory serves me - when Shop at Home was hawking the 85 set - it said Tiffany on the box - so if collectors coined this term as quoted in SCBC by Krause pub., it didn't take Topps long to pick up on the term if I am correct about the box I saw on TV. I have never purchased singles or any sets. BTW, Fleer in 96 made a parallel 'glossy' tiffany set that was inserted into the base brand packs.
    Mike
    Mike
  • CWCW Posts: 1,214 ✭✭✭
    The only tiffany cards I have are from '85, so that's the only
    set I can comment on. On top of the glossy finish and white stock
    that Mike mentioned, you can also tell the difference by looking
    at the copyright on the back of the card. The regular issues say
    that the cards were "printed in the U.S.A.", the tiffany version
    does not (tiffany sets were printed in Ireland, btw).

    I also believe that Beckett still states the print runs for tiffany
    sets. Not all the tiffany sets were limited to only 5,000. From
    what I've seen, the tiffany cards from '85 usually show toning or
    yellowing, obviously from the glossy coating. This can really take
    away from the card's visual appeal. If you're looking to buy a card
    from the '85 tiffany set, try to find one with nice, white borders,
    but expect to pay a premium.
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,407 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i> "printed in the U.S.A.", the tiffany version
    does not (tiffany sets were printed in Ireland, btw). >>



    CW
    That's interesting - as I stated before - you are correct on the print run - in 84T set - it was 10,000 and then they dropped it to 5,000 sets. Till 1987 when they let the presses run it up to 30,000! In 1988 they produced 25,000 and sold them direct to the public in the Sporting News and USA Today. Finally, 1991 was the last year of the set - it is believed that the Topps traded tiffany was produced in very small quantities which make them expensive in unopened sets at 200$.
    Mike
    Mike
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