Relative Scarcity of Topps Test Issues (2nd try)

bobsbbcards

Hi,

I was asked my HO (seems wrong to use HO to mean humble opinion in this sentence) about relative scarcity of Topps Baseball Bucks and Topps Greatest Moments. As I tried to form a HO, I began to think about all of the different Topps test issues and inserts and which I have had the most trouble finding (either as sets or as singles). After many reorderings, I would rank the Topps Test issues from 1955 to 1977 as follows in decreasing order of difficulty (leaving out 56 Hocus Pocus which I plead total ignorance). Please feel free to kibitz (criticize) as much you desire. I have reasons for most of the positions, but the list would be a bit unwieldy if I added them. So here goes:

1966 Punchboards

1963 Mantle Plaque (Mask)

1955 Test Stamps

1968 Plaks (statues themselves)

1961 Dice Game

1968 Discs

1970 Cloth Stickers

1967 Giant Stand Ups

1973 Comics

1964 Rookie All-Star Banquet

1972 Candy Lids

1967 Test Discs

1967 SF Test Discs

1970 Candy Lids

1968 Plaks Checklist

1973 Pin Ups

1968 3-D

1967 Punchouts

1968 Action All Star Stickers

1974 Puzzles

1969 4-in-1 Mini Stickers

1973 53 Reprints

1965 Push Pull

1971 Greatest Moments

1955 Doubleheaders

1972 Cloth Stickers

1969 Team Posters

1964 Photo Tattoos

1974 Deckle Edge

1962 Baseball Bucks

1956 Pins

1960 Tattoos

1973 Candy Lids

1969 Supers

1976 Cloth Stickers

1974 Action Emblems

1967 Who Am I?

1967 Red Sox Stickers

1967 Pirates Stickers

1968 Tips From Topps Booklet

1968 Posters

1965 Transfers

1964 Stand Ups

1963 Valentine Foldees

1972 Posters

1966 Comic Book Foldees

1975-80 Team Checklist Sheets

1961 Stamps

1962 Stamps

1964 Coins

1969 Decals

1965 Embossed

1966 Rub Offs

1961 Magic Ruboffs

1971 Tattoos

1963 Peel Offs

1969 Stamps

1971 Coins

1970 Supers

1967 Pinups

1971 Supers

1964 Giants

1970 Player Posters

1970-71 Scratch Offs

1969 Deckle Edge

1968 Game

1970 Story Booklets

1974 Stamps

1977 Cloth Stickers

** edited to add in missing sets and take into account feedback. Thanks **

Scumbi

Bob,

You definitely have a SMR-worthy article here. I'm no slouch...well, I guess I'm a total slouch, but I haven't even heard of some to these Topps Test issues. Maybe you could provide some background on the the top ten rarest issues, how they came about and where they were distributed. Also, a link to you 1968 3-D set would be appreciated. Those cards are so beautiful. Are there scans? Congrats on your collecting endeavors and educating yourself about a truly fascinating part of Topps history.

Best,

Scumbi

mikeschmidt

Scumbi:

The best source for this sort of information can be found Click this pretty little link

Bob's 1968 Topps 3-D set, complete with pictures, can be found here

bobsbbcards

Thanks Slouch,
You haven't heard of some of these issues because I made them up (not really). I'm afraid I am ill equipped to write the article because as you suggest, it would need background (where were they issued, why were they issued, who bought them, where do they live). My experience with them is more as a hunter. I seek them, they hide, I get bitter. Well, you know the rest.

A link to my 3-D set...that I can do! Thanks for axing!

bobsbbcards - 2nd All Time Finest Set

bobsbbcards

Oops, ms is toooooo fast! At least he mentioned that I added purty pictures too.

bobsbbcards

All further correspondence should now be done on the first occurrent of this thread. Thank you for your patience (IT'S NOT MY FAULT!!!)

67standup

Here's a useful summary of Topps Test issues


Topps Test issues

Select "The Library" tab on the left, then select first topic

Gatorbait

Hey, Bobs. I love that '68 Perez. What a great picture.

peterredshoes

Out of curiosity, where would Topps mail-in team cards figure into this (if at all)?

I have an extremely limited knowledge of the issue, but as I understand it for a brief period in the late '70s you could actually send away for a Topps team card (the idea being, I guess, so you could get a checklist of your favorite team). In 1979 at least, the cards were printed on whiter card stock than those put into packs and I think can be distinguished without much difficulty. I missed an eBay auction for one of the Tigers and have been kicking myself ever since...but I digress.

Peter G.

helionaut

Obviously, there are degrees of scarcity, but I think once you get down to a certain level, where there might only be less than 10 examples known period, it's tough to discriminate. Maybe you could group them into common, uncommon and rare. Commons would be stuff like 1964 Giants, 1975 Minis and 1977 Cloths. Uncommons would be stuff like Candy Lids and 1971 Greatest Moments, where they are hard to find but usually available for the right price. Rares would be the stuff that absolutely was not issued to the public and when they come into the market make news (or at least a post here). This would save you at least some headaches if not exacting accuracy.

But don't forget the ultramega-uber-suber rare 1972 Topps Greatest Moments:


I found this in a coffee can buried in the mud under an old general store my greatgrandfather owned which I inherited after he died of a stroke whlie working to pay for his divorce from his wife after he had already sold all his cards to pay for her breast implants. I'm not saying it's real, but it doesn't say that it's not.

bobsbbcards

<< <i>Out of curiosity, where would Topps mail-in team cards figure into this (if at all)? >>


Peter,
Good question. These were available as send-aways from 1975 thru 1980 (with 1977 being the one I searched the longest for). These sell a few times a year on eBay as complete sets (1977 and 1979 are available right now).

1977 TOPPS TEAM CHECKLIST PANEL SHEET Mint Scarce!!!

1979 TOPPS TEAM CHECKLIST FULL SHEET *SCARCE*

They tend to sell between $20 and $35. If you want to see how common they are, bid $300 bucks on one. They will come flying out of the wood work. Low price and low interest tend to make things look scarce when they are not. I'd place them on the list somewhere around 1961 Stamps (slightly uncommon).

B

bobsbbcards

<< <i>Maybe you could group them into common, uncommon and rare. >>


Helionaut,
Good idea. This would certainly save on time, and most of us could agree on general categories. The list itself was more a mental exercise and a conversation starter. I probably should have really stirred it up to get an argument started (1968 GAME IS TOO THE HARDEST TEST SET TO GET IN THE UNIVERSE!!!!)

I will go ahead and add the 72 Greatest Moments to the list (I think just above Topps Dice). Do you have a checklist?

Bob

sflayank

now that top 10 is right there
now how about a list of the rarest postwar non-topps issues
you can start with felin franks

peterredshoes

Bob,

Thanks for the information--it had never occurred to me to look for these in set/sheet form.

Peter G.