Home› Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum

1979 Baseball Wax

mygottamygotta Posts: 1,652
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
I picked a pack up from eBay and was told to be cautious about sellers with old unopened packs. So I scanned the front and back for anyone's opinion on the authenticity. This is all new to me to I am learning about all this from ground up. (not cards, but unopened material and what to look for)


image
image

Comments

  • brianwintersfanbrianwintersfan Posts: 3,626 ✭✭
    If you want to be safe buy your unopened product from Baseball Card Exchange. An experienced knowledgeable owner who stands behind what he sells. Not saying there aren't good sellers on eBay but why take the chance?
  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,748 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Hard to tell from the scan...back looks ok, but shattered gum is a bad sign as resealers do that because they use skinnier late 80s gum in 70s packs in which gum should be much thicker. Are there any roller marks on reverse? Can't tell from the pic. Best way to really find out for sure is to open the pack.

    Edit to add: If you tell us who you bought it from, that would clarify the issue considerably..


    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
  • mygottamygotta Posts: 1,652


    << <i>Hard to tell from the scan...back looks ok, but shattered gum is a bad sign as resealers do that because they use skinnier late 80s gum in 70s packs in which gum should be much thicker. Are there any roller marks on reverse? Can't tell from the pic. Best way to really find out for sure is to open the pack.

    Edit to add: If you tell us who you bought it from, that would clarify the issue considerably.. >>



    The seller is gpkwarehouse

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/1979-TOPPS-BASEBALL-WAX-PACK-/180960920977?_trksid=p2047675.l2557&amp;ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&amp;nma=true&amp;si=jPHKYX+Iv0YakZPhL5ANfsxNMM4=&amp;orig_cvip=true&amp;rt=nc

    link

    The gum is shattered. Funny you mention. I dont know what I am looking for with "roller marks" but it seems to have more of a matte finish than a glossy like the top side. I will open it and keep the order in tact for serialization purposes.

    @brianwintersfan - I have not bought from baseball card exchange but I think I want to buy everything in their inventory. haha. But I was told they are the premiere place to buy this stuff.

  • mygottamygotta Posts: 1,652
    Ok, well definitely something is amiss with this pack. A pack of commons. I think Bobbie Mercer is the highlight of the pack. The conditions look ok, to an otherwise off-center grouping. The gum was on top of the pack. If you see the scan, it does not even look like a complete piece of gum. Or my puzzle skills have gone down the drain.

    image

    The second strange thing was opening the pack, all the cards were facing the folded side of the pack. Yet, the last card had no gum stains, but the first card did - which had no gum on it.

    image

    Not sure if you can see the gum stains in the scan, but they are there. Or maybe wax.

    The pack consisted of:

    Alan Bannister #134
    Bill Stein 698
    John Hiller 151
    Bud Harrelson 118
    Bob Watsonn 130
    Rowland Office 132
    Joel Youngblood 109
    Derrel Thomas 679
    Bobby Mercer 135
    Roy White 159
    Peter Redfern 113
    Jim Clancy 131

    Given that this pack has been messed with. What are my options for recourse? Call out the seller? Ask for refund? Neg feedback? Chalk it up to lesson learned and move on?
  • jeffcbayjeffcbay Posts: 8,950 ✭✭✭✭
    Search this forum for "group break" and have fun reading about some of the awesome purchases we've made from BBCE. Participate in the next one! image
  • jeffcbayjeffcbay Posts: 8,950 ✭✭✭✭


    << <i>The second strange thing was opening the pack, all the cards were facing the folded side of the pack. Yet, the last card had no gum stains, but the first card did - which had no gum on it.

    Not sure if you can see the gum stains in the scan, but they are there. Or maybe wax. >>



    You're probably seeing wax stains on that Bannister. The gum sometimes doesn't leave a stain if the pack was stored properly. That being said, this pack doesn't pass the smell test. Not really worth recourse with the seller since you don't have proof of anything foul, I would chalk it up to lesson learned and buy from BBCE whenever possible.
  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,748 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Gum is wrong size in that pack. NG.

    Wrapper appears to have been recreased as well, but the gum is the giveaway, and as I mentioned earlier, is usually shattered
    in packs like these.


    Collecting 1970s Topps baseball wax, rack and cello packs, as well as PCGS graded Half Cents, Large Cents, Two Cent pieces and Three Cent Silver pieces.
  • mygottamygotta Posts: 1,652
    Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts and experiences. This has been a nice learning experience on my part.
  • DCanfieldDCanfield Posts: 548 ✭
    Collecting unopened is a part of the hobby that many of us enjoy and I hope you will too. Unfortunately, buying raw wax packs off ebay is a real gamble. First, as a beginner, I would stick to PSA graded packs. Some older GAI material is pretty safe but you need to do a little research to find what serial numbers are OK. BBCE is the leading retailer of vintage material and Steve Hart's reputation is beyond reproach. You can check their website for what's available. You may pay a little more but it is well worth it to ensure you have good wax. In my opinion, the group rips that Mark holds on these boards are the best way to buy raw material. The packs come from BBCE and there is usually a great variety to choose from. Most times Steve extends a discount to the CU members which is certainly a bonus. Lastly, the BST forum on the CU message boards has material for sale from members, many of whom have stellar reputations.
    Chalk this ebay purchase up as a learning experience. Paul (BBG) put up some great scans of roller marks. You'll learn! Best of luck and welcome. image
    Life is not a journey to the grave with the intention of arriving safely in a pretty and well preserved body, but rather to skid in broadside, thoroughly used up, totally worn out, and loudly proclaiming 'WOW What a Ride!' Mark Frost
  • Stone193Stone193 Posts: 24,438 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Thanks everyone for sharing your thoughts and experiences. This has been a nice learning experience on my part. >>

    And a cheap one.

    I concur with Paul that on the roller marks.

    I was wondering if you checked the back of the wrapper. Can you see where someone didn't think and just heated the entire back to reseal it? Just curious.
    Mike
  • Foo3112Foo3112 Posts: 1,961
    You usually want to make this thread BEFORE you purchase. Just because you got a pack full of commons doesn't necessarily mean it was tampered with. Ive opened up packs from BBCE and have come across nothing but commons as well. However, I do agree - purchase from BBCE only when it comes to unopened ungraded packs so you KNOW that your not getting ripped off. You might pay a little extra but for the piece of mind, its totally worth it.

    I think there's going to be another group rip by the end of the month. You should join in. The good thing about it is that you don't even have to spend much to participate so anyone with a budget can join in on the fun because there's lots of variety and different pricing to meet most peoples budgets.
  • bigdcardsbigdcards Posts: 1,188 ✭✭✭
    The only way to know for sure is to eat the gum. The 80s gum has a unique kick to it. For comparison, try some 87 topps which is under 50 cents a pack. 1981 fleer is actually more like the 70s packs and would be cheap for you to test as well.

    This is an easy test and nothing can possibly go wrong.
    To bigdcards: "you are right" - cpamike "That is correct" -grote15
Sign In or Register to comment.