I just received my Topps Complete Collection (1951-1990) book (includes FAQs)

Estil

My wife just picked up for me the most fantastic early birthday present ever! This book, called Topps Complete Collection (1951-1990) has pictures of the front of every Topps baseball card from 1951 through 1990. I remember reading this book in my middle school library (1992-95) and I thought it was a fantastic book. Thus when I saw the chance I just had to ask my wife to secure me a copy. This was especially true considering the fact that back then I couldn't do complete sets like I do today. There was also an earlier edition released (red cover) that covers 1951-85. To the best of my knowledge, Topps only did these two books for baseball and never released an update since.

Now I would also be interested in the football book as well, but so far I've only been able to find the one that covers 1956-85 (sky blue cover). Can anyone verify for me whether or not Topps made a new version for 1990 like they did for baseball, or is the 1956-85 version the only one they made for football?

Anyway, this was a fantastic early birthday present and I can't wait to receive it. It will be a long time before I can afford to get the real 1960s-early 1970s sets, but this book is definetly the next best thing, right?

This link is not the exact book my wife bought for me, but it does give you an idea of what it looks like both outside and inside, not to mention it'll give anyone else here that's interested a chance to pick up a copy of their own (be warned, this book does not come cheap and in fact had a $100 cover price originally):
Topps Complete Collection (1951-1990) book

RedHeart54

Oh yes, I remember that book. (The one up to 1985, anyway.) I was looking at it just a few months ago at the library. It gives you quite a work-out considering its weight!

tsalem

I have this book. It is a GREAT book! However..VERY VERY heavy!

Clemaz

I have a book that shows all the Bowman and Topps cards for the fifties and another book with the sixties. I don't have anything that shows the 70's-90's.

WinPitcher

Estil nice book!! It is a coffee table style book if I am not mistaken. During the late 80's (I think 88) a detergent company (Surf?) also produced a book, a soft cover one. Each team had one made. They may have done it for 2 yrs?

Hope you enjoy the book!


Steve

pomobileclk

If you have the Topps book, you have to have this book too. It has pictures of all BB cards from 1886 to 1955.

stown

Per Amazon, 1986 was the last issue for a topps football card book.

msassin

I remember looking at the football book all of the time in the junior high library.

dude

I have the football book and found it on a clearance table in a book store for $5.

Morgoth

Dude you suck man, I bought one for my dad's birthday 5 years ago off Amazon and it was like 50 bucks.

Estil

<< <i>I remember looking at the football book all of the time in the junior high library. >>



Just like I did at my middle school library! Small world, eh?

And to the guy with the 1886-1955 book, I'd like a copy of that book too. I just hope it's more affordable than the one I'm getting. As you can see folks, I not only enjoy collecting cards but I'm also like an amateur baseball/football card historian too! I was a history (and political science) major at Kentucky after all.

BassPro77

pretty cool book.

for now i just go to this web site. it doesn't have every thing, but it has a lot.
pictures included

vintage checklist

Estil

Actually, that does make sense that they only made the football book for 1986. See, just like the baseball books were done for the 35th and 40th anniversaries, the football book was done to commemorate Topps' 30th anniversary of football cards. So of course it's not likely Topps would've celebrated a lame 35th anniversary in 1991 for Topps football.

Also, to those who already own copies of the Topps baseball book; I believe it gives some kind of write-up for each year; is that about mainly the baseball season or the card set itself? And do the books include the Traded sets?

Kid4hof03

I've got the 1985 books of both. My Mom bought me the 1985 baseball book at Sams. I've used it a ton over the years. In all of my moves it has always gone with me, one of those rare items that I've just never been willing to part with.

The book does have a write up of each season before that years cards and does include all the traded sets.

Abe

Estil

pomobileclk, can you tell me which sets are included in your book? You're right, I'm definetly going to get a copy of that book too.

mikelowell25

great book, estil!! i own one and have had it since 1993; i bought it at buck-a-book on cape cod (a discount book store--not sure if its a national chain or just a local/massachusetts/east coast chain), not for a buck, unfortunately, but for $19.95--i kind of wish i bought two of them as i refer to mine quite often, especially the back section which lists alphabetically every player that appeared on a topps card (pitchers and position players listed separately) and the years they appeared on a card and what number the card is in that set. the book is an invaluable reference and although i look through it pretty often, its still in pristine condition. (i took the dust jacket off it many years ago as the book is far too heavy for its thin paper jacket--more like a windbreaker--topps should've put a parka around it cause its so big!!). its also far too big for a coffee table and more suited to a dining room table. enjoy the book, estil; what did your wife pay for it??

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Estil

Counting shipping I'd guesstimate between $35-$50.

pomobileclk

I took some photos of the Table of Contents. Every set from 1887 Allen & Ginters to 1955 Bowman is pictured. Half the book is tobacco cards.

Estil

And they include complete sets of all of them? How many pages is that book? Unbelieveable, I just GOT to get me a copy of my own. Wow, I'm going to end up being a world renowned baseball/football card professor with all these educational materials, eh?

And BTW, I noticed they do not include the Topps sets in that book; I guess they figured why waste the space when the Topps Complete Collection books already has that covered.

pomobileclk

They show every card in every set

Estil

Hey guys! In all the hoopla and hype regarding my 1975 Topps set quest, I forgot to mention that I just got my Topps Complete Collection book! This is indeed a truely fantastic book and it is just like how I remembered it when I looked through it in middle school! Now for some FAQs for those considering this book:

1. What cards are included?
This book includes pictures of EVERY regular issue Topps baseball card from 1951-90. And yes, this includes both blue and red backs for 1951.

2. Are the traded cards included?
Yes, except for the 1990 Topps Traded set, as it must not have been released before the book was made.

3. Are scans of the backs included?
No, just the fronts. On standard size card sets there's 36 cards per page.

4. Are the yearly write-ups about the cards or the year in baseball?
Each set includes a two page write up of which about a page and a half of it is about that baseball season. It does include a paragraph about the cards which typically includes the "firsts" for that set, key rookies, as well as subsets. It also includes a quiz where it tells you the answer only by card number, which means you must look up that card number in that set to find out who the player was.

Anyway, this is truely a fantastic book and I will treasure it always as it was an early b-day present from my wife; isn't she just the sweetest? Now all I need is the Topps football book along with the Classic Baseball Cards book!

fgoodwin

What is the name of the Topps FB book?

I recall buying a used copy of a book that pictures all the Pro Set FB issues for the fist half of the 90s, only to find out later that someone cut out pictures of several cards.

Estil

Topps Football Cards 1956-1986

Here you go.

perkdog

I have a different Baseball book, it covers ALL Baseball- Bowman and Topps from 1950-1959 Awesome book!

I would LOVE to find one that covers Bowman Football 1948-1955 Im not sure there is one though..

Estil

<< <i>I have a different Baseball book, it covers ALL Baseball- Bowman and Topps from 1950-1959 Awesome book!

I would LOVE to find one that covers Bowman Football 1948-1955 Im not sure there is one though.. >>



I want that book that covers all the pre-war and 1948-55 Bowman sets!