Unopened 58 rack with Clemente on top

ClockworkAngel

I saw this in person today. The seller owns a card shop here in California and thought I'd share with the unopened enthusiasts.

One of a kind item

Clemente

handyman

Pack is a rewrap. Not original.
What where your thoughts on the pack?

grote15

Not an original Topps rack and as such has limited value tied primarily to the value of that card in the apparent grade.

ClockworkAngel

<< <i>Pack is a rewrap. Not original.
What where your thoughts on the pack? >>



I had never heard of nor seen Christmas rack packs like these and with all the hoopla about counterfeits, tampering, etc, the first thing that crossed my mind was to ask the experts as I am certainly far from one myself.

So Christmas racks weren't even made? Or is there something about these that screams tampering?

A761506

Christmas packs were indeed made by a third party company utilizing cards that had already been distributed by Topps and sold just as you see it in the listing. It was extremely common for cards of popular players to be placed so they could be seen through one (sometimes two or even all three) of the windows. The packs were sold as gift items. They are legit as far as the period goes, the condition of the cards is generally middle of the road, and there are quite a few of them still floating around today. I think of them sort of like I think of an unauthorized card issue - they really shouldn't have any value (beyond that of the cards themselves), but there is some demand for them. There's a high probability that all other cards out of view are commons, since the stars were purposely picked out to be placed so they could be visible.

grote15

<< <i>Christmas packs were indeed made by a third party company utilizing cards that had already been distributed by Topps and sold just as you see it in the listing. It was extremely common for cards of popular players to be placed so they could be seen through one (sometimes two or even all three) of the windows. The packs were sold as gift items. They are legit as far as the period goes, the condition of the cards is generally middle of the road, and there are quite a few of them still floating around today. I think of them sort of like I think of an unauthorized card issue - they really shouldn't have any value (beyond that of the cards themselves), but there is some demand for them. There's a high probability that all other cards out of view are commons, since the stars were purposely picked out to be placed so they could be visible. >>



+1

Basically what you see is what you get with these x-mas racks, and as such they aren't nearly as appealing as truly unopened product. No one really knows when the racks were actually assembled but it almost certainly wasn't the year of issue, and it definitely wasn't by Topps. For unopened collectors, they are not legitimate racks because of that fact and also of course because the cards inside instaed of being "pack fresh" were typically EX-MT or NM at best. Also, unlike real packs from this erea, the x-mas racks weren't assembled or packaged by series but included cards from all series. Further, they are still producing these x-mas or holiday racsk today, which further diminsihes the value of the "real" x-mas racks or the ones that were first put together using after market cards in (the consensus believes) the 1960s. The first truly authentic rack pack produced by Topps was made (IIRC) in 1960.

flatfoot816

morning!

I am not sure that I would agree that the Christmas racks can be considered legit or authentic.

I think they are still being made by a different "3rd party"

Maurice

<< <i> The packs were sold as gift items. They are legit as far as the period goes >>


Funny how nobody can recall ever seeing these things prior to Murphy's large "find" 13-14 years ago.

vladguerrero

I don't buy the story with them and if this pack was even semi legit/authentic it would be gone at the current asking price.

smtjoy

<< <i>morning!

I am not sure that I would agree that the Christmas racks can be considered legit or authentic.

I think they are still being made by a different "3rd party" >>




+1

Still being made today

1all

<< <i>

<< <i> The packs were sold as gift items. They are legit as far as the period goes >>


Funny how nobody can recall ever seeing these things prior to Murphy's large "find" 13-14 years ago. >>



Yea Maurice... and I was always particularly suspect of this particular pack:



-Doug

flatfoot816

1all

funny! nice photoshopping

ClockworkAngel

<< <i>

<< <i>

<< <i> The packs were sold as gift items. They are legit as far as the period goes >>


Funny how nobody can recall ever seeing these things prior to Murphy's large "find" 13-14 years ago. >>



Yea Maurice... and I was always particularly suspect of this particular pack:



-Doug >>



LOL!