1968 Topps Proofs

gtgrad99

I picked this up at a local show today and wanted to see if anyone knows anything about these?



Thanks in advance

Stone193

Hi gt

I don't collect them but do collect full color proofs from time to time.

What you have is a "progressive" color separation proof card - usually - to the best of my knowledge - the printer uses 4 colors in the process - yellow, magenta, cyan and black.

You've got the "cyan" proof - the plate was made from one of the color separation negatives.

In the case of Topps, they make the plates out of aluminum - and since they're fragile and wear quickly - I figure they use an "off-set" process to make the cards - i.e. - the plate gets the ink and it's transferred to a roller - that places it onto the cardboard. This was confirmed in my mind - due to the fact that the aluminum plates that are cut and and given out - are "positives" - so if they were to print directly onto cardboard - would show up as a negative or backwards.

All of what I'm giving is not expert and only from what I've learned over time and is subject to being inaccurate. But, I believe it's generally correct.

edit: I "borrowed" this one from ebay - I remember back in the early 90s - Alan Hager of Accugrade - had a boatload of progressive proofs for sale.



For any newcomers to the hobby - if you see a picture that's kind of blurry - almost like a 3-D pic - the photo is "out of register" - where the individual plates with separation colors are NOT properly aligned so that the plates aren't hitting the cardboard in exactly the SAME place when being transferred.

Toro

I remember the Hager ads, the original grader. I'm sure his prices back then are a bargain in comparison to todays for the corresponding grades.

Tedw9

Nice pickup! I don't ever remember seeing a 68 proof before, pretty cool!

I think the info Stone gave you was 100% right on. Somewhere around here I still have an Alan Hagar Proof Price Guide that was shipped with a proof I bought from him. It has a ton of great information even if the prices quoted are no good anymore.

May I ask what you gave for it?

gtgrad99

The proof was $10. I figured that no matter what book value is, it is still pretty cool and therefore worth $10.

Stone193

<< <i>The proof was $10. I figured that no matter what book value is, it is still pretty cool and therefore worth $10. >>

I think that's fair.



One like this - a common - would've been sold at the Toppsvault with an opening bid of 9.95 or so and may sell at the minimum - a guy has this one up on ebay BIN of 35 bucks or so.