1991 Desert Shield Factory Set - Yes, Virginia, there is such a thing!

otwcards · January 5, 2014 4:17AM

Yes, it does/did exist! Not in the sense that it was available to the public or had special packaging. They were put in regular Topps factory set boxes (white stock with red, blue and yellow ink) and did not include any of the "factory set" inserts.

The one that I recently witnessed was one of two donated by Topps to a college charity raffle in 1991. The collation of the set was legit and the cards were stellar!

Big80s · January 5, 2014 4:21AM

Very interesting.

vols1 · January 5, 2014 4:38AM

How do you know it was put together at the factory rather than the corporate office by hand?

Stone193 · January 5, 2014 4:46AM

Hey Scott

Never saw that - cool!

otwcards · January 5, 2014 5:02AM

<< How do you know it was put together at the factory rather than the corporate office by hand? >>

Semantics?

It was provided to the public market by Topps. Whether collated by hand in a corporate office or as part of the standard factory run and packaging, the collation was the same as a regular Topps factory collated set. To the best of my knowledge, there had been no confirmation that any "factory" sets were issued. This dispels that theory.

swartz1 · January 5, 2014 5:31AM

Any more pics of this find?

bunt · January 5, 2014 5:32AM

WOW - is this the first sighting of such a thing ? Had never ever see this before - That's the set with the 4k Chipper in a 10 correct ?

otwcards · January 5, 2014 5:52AM

<< Any more pics of this find? >>

Nothing really to see. The box was the generic factory set box with standard Topps tape (no logo, as per the norm) and the cards were stunning. It has been broken down and the best of submitted and in the process of being sold.

Big80s · January 5, 2014 5:55AM

<< WOW - is this the first sighting of such a thing ? Had never ever see this before - That's the set with the 4k Chipper in a 10 correct ? >>

That's the one.

ClockworkAngel · January 5, 2014 6:27AM

I'm missing something. What's stopping me from building a set and putting it in this box (taking out the regular set of course) ?The Topps tape?

Based on what I am understanding, calling these "factory sets" would be a tad misleading. As someone else said, it almost seems like Topps decided to build a couple sets for charity and put it in the reg box....specially for this event

If we see other sets popping up in different scenarios I'm on board but I can't see it commanding a premium as being rare

vols1 · January 5, 2014 6:31AM

<< 

<< How do you know it was put together at the factory rather than the corporate office by hand? >>

Semantics?

It was provided to the public market by Topps. Whether collated by hand in a corporate office or as part of the standard factory run and packaging, the collation was the same as a regular Topps factory collated set. To the best of my knowledge, there had been no confirmation that any "factory" sets were issued. This dispels that theory. >>

From the collectors standpoint Items fabricated to be sold as one of a kind by the Topps Vault are totally different than items fabricated to be sold on store shelves.

maddux69 · January 5, 2014 6:40AM

I am surprised that the sets weren't specially notated, unless they were sent out of the factory in a box that had a Desert Shield notation. Even though the Desert Shield boxes and packs can't be differentiated from the regular 1991 series, Topps did mark the cases with Desert Shield emblems as shown in the latest Mears auction. This is the first time I have seen a Desert Shield case box, it may be a rarity among itself.

Mears auction Desert Shield Set and Case

otwcards · January 5, 2014 7:07AM

Alright... Everyone disregard.

The fact that these were factory collated (like a vending box) and matched the collation of the regular factory set can be completely disregarded.

OBVIOUSLY, they were extremely limited and were probably executive/employee only.

I apologize for sharing this finding and calling it a FACTORY set... I also apologize to ANYONE that thought I was suggesting that these were available for public access!

You may resume arguing about eBay policies and auction house shipping costs...

vladguerrero · January 5, 2014 7:14AM

lol

bunt · January 5, 2014 8:04AM

OTW likes to post big manpants stuff but then backtracks off it by being a big manpants.

Maurice · January 5, 2014 8:19AM

Great discovery. And your dog is fantastic.

otwcards · January 5, 2014 8:55AM

<< OTW likes to post big manpants stuff but then backtracks off it by being a big manpants. >>

Obviously, sarcasm and cynicism were absent during your education...

bigdcards · January 5, 2014 1:19PM

<< I apologize for sharing this finding and calling it a FACTORY set... I also apologize to ANYONE that thought I was suggesting that these were available for public access! >>

Appology accepted

dytch2220 · January 5, 2014 1:25PM

<< 

<< I apologize for sharing this finding and calling it a FACTORY set... I also apologize to ANYONE that thought I was suggesting that these were available for public access! >>

Appology accepted >>

Did you apologize to Maurice?

GDM67 · January 5, 2014 4:14PM

<< OBVIOUSLY, they were extremely limited and were probably executive/employee only. >>

A bit like the early '60's Presentation Sets.

otwcards · January 6, 2014 11:20AM

Just to clarify, since I received a few PM's about this.

The cards in the set were "factory" collated. The appearance was that which you would see when opening a factory set or vending box and NOT of a hand collated set AND it was in the same collation order as a regular factory issued set. Hence, given my experience in dealing with such items, there is little doubt that this was "factory" produced and not assembled by someone in an office collating it from remaining inventory. The fact that it came straight from Topps and not from a secondary market source should suffice that it was a Topps product. For those that wish to argue semantics about "factory set" versus "specialty set," go ahead. I was just offering the fact that Topps DID produce and distribute the Desert Shield set in a complete set form regardless of how limited or selective as it may have been.

Dpeck100 · January 6, 2014 11:23AM

<< Just to clarify, since I received a few PM's about this.

The cards in the set were "factory" collated. The appearance was that which you would see when opening a factory set or vending box and NOT of a hand collated set AND it was in the same collation order as a regular factory issued set. Hence, given my experience in dealing with such items, there is little doubt that this was "factory" produced and not assembled by someone in an office collating it from remaining inventory. The fact that it came straight from Topps and not from a secondary market source should suffice that it was a Topps product. For those that wish to argue semantics about "factory set" versus "specialty set," go ahead. I was just offering the fact that Topps DID produce and distribute the Desert Shield set in a complete set form regardless of how limited or selective as it may have been. >>

Sounds really awesome no matter what you want to call it. There has to be some nice cards in there for sure!

1991 Desert Shield Factory Set - Yes, Virginia, there is such a thing!

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