Topps Vault question:

Hank36

Older Topps Vault items came with a COA which actually described the item being certified, but items that I have purchased within the past 2-3 years have all arrived with a COA with only a handwritten serial number which (presumably) matches the serial number on the hologram with that item.

What I find odd is that if Topps has ever compiled a database of these serial numbers, I have no idea if it is publically accessable. This occurred to me last night, as I pulled out a "mask neg." card that I purchased a couple of years ago and realized that since I didn't bother to at least capture a screenshot of the original Ebay listing, the details of my item are apparently gone forever.

Why would Topps go to the trouble of creating all of these serial numbers if they did not intend to put them to their most obvious use--unless, of course, the serial numbers are intended only to match a COA to a hologram?

Toro

I noticed they changed the certificates also to the detriment of collectors. I prefer the descriptives ones and unfortunately they changed it to the generic versions. I just made a recent purchase and I would hope that the certs aren't worse. I won a John Elway 1984 Topps Full color proof a few years back and was disappointed in the new generic cert. I wrote them but never received an answer. I would guess an email to their eBay account may get an answer.

vladguerrero

You are correct, there is no database. When they first started selling stuff they didnt have anyway to tie the descriptive COA to the item and because of that there are many items that where sold after that which are not genuine. This is also why grading companies won't slab the early stuff.

Hank36

Wait a second: what "early stuff" Topps Vault items are not genuine?

vladguerrero

<< <i>Wait a second: what "early stuff" Topps Vault items are not genuine? >>



Swindlers just took the COA and paired them with non-topps vault items and they were sold as authentic (not by Topps).

Toro

Yeah, I'm not sure how early you are talking about. I believe my Elway, purchased in/around 2007 had the generic cert. The year prior I believe had the descriptive cert but also had matching holograms. I'm unsure how someone would fake a better cert? Was this prior to the holograms?

vladguerrero

<< <i>Yeah, I'm not sure how early you are talking about. I believe my Elway, purchased in/around 2007 had the generic cert. The year prior I believe had the descriptive cert but also had matching holograms. I'm unsure how someone would fake a better cert? Was this prior to the holograms? >>



Not fake a COA.

Take the real COA and because back then they did not have any unique identifiers on the card/photo/etc people would make a fake item and sell it with the real COA as a complete (authentic) Topps Vault item... and keep the item. It was a big problem (think how easy it would be to scan a card on photo paper, mess with the color settings and create your own proof) and eventually the grading companies had to stop slabbing stuff because they got burned on this scam.

There was actually a time when Topps didn't even issue a COA believe it or not! If you have old items that do have the COA but no hologram leave them in the case they came in with the Topps seal sticker.

And the Topps Vault typically isn't very responsive to email/Ebay messenger questions. I love their stuff though and they do a awesome job packing the items.

Hank36

The only TV item I've ever purchased from a party other than the Topps Vault itself, I bought from Probstein. It came with a COA. Should I be concerned about either the item or the COA?

mikelowell25

hank, i'll be replying to your last post and your original post in the next day or two with a piece i wrote about the topps vault and my experiences with them last spring that i intended to post here at that time but decided to hold off; after seeing your thread, i feel now is the perfect time for me to get my piece/diatribe on here and finally get this off my chest!! that being said, please be on the lookout for it in the next day or two; once i locate it in my drafts folder and edit it, it'll make its way on to this thread.

Toro

I believe Probstein was one of the largest sellers of Topps Vault items. I'm not sure if he still sells them though.

Hank36

I will say this--the Probstein item came with an old-style COA--with an actual description of the item, not a serial number.