Topps Sketch Card question

mbothner

Were any of these actual pack inserts? I bought these 2 last year and thought they were pack inserts but at least 1 of them came directly from the artist because he sent me a bunch of additional information about his art. By looking at the back of the 2009 sketch cards, they look to me that they would be an insert but I guess that is actually not the case. Not sure how these are actually Topps cards if they are coming from the artist. The 2010 sketch cards are much more clear. They come as blanks in the packs and say as much on the backs but am not sure if any 2010 sketches were actual inserts. Can anyone clear this up? I am very confused. PSA sent these two back to me and would not grade them but I think I saw a sketch card that was graded by Beckett.

MeteoriteGuy

I've seen blank ones...and you might remember that Stras someone made and eBay'd, linked a month ago here.

In other words...no clue, but some are not.

BunchOBull

Prior to 2010 Topps, Topps contracted artists (several are members here) to create a certain number of sketch cards for pack insert. Artists were only making a dollar or two per sketch, but, in order to more fairly compensate the artists, Topps allowed the artists to keep the sketches that were not pack inserted, or even provided the artist with extra blanks for side work.

In 2010, the blanks you see are basically a contest. Topps inserts the blank sketch cards and independent (non-contracted) artists and amateurs can sketch an image from a 2010 Topps card and send the sketch in for consideration.

Your prize? Having your sketch inserted into a future Topps product.

Basically a way for Topps to get sketches for free.

mbothner

Topps should have made some way to distinguish between pack inserts and cards that were not released by Topps. Most people would see the front and back of the 2009 sketch cards and think that it was an insert and pay more than they would have otherwise.