Can I ask a novice question about cello packs?

Constantine

Pre-1980 cello packs appeal to me. But I can only see the centering of the top card. So what are the odds for the likelihood of the rest of the cards centered if the top is centered? Or if the top isn't centered, does that mean the rest usually are not? Thanks!

grote15

Centering on top card is a decent indicator but is far from guaranteed. I have opened cello packs in which top card was nicely centered and next card was badly OC and vice versa. It does seem to have more consistency with certain issues like 1970 cellos than others like late 70s cellos. I'd say that centering of top card in a cello pack has more to do with aesthetic appeal for an unopened collector than anything else, but if you have a choice between two cellos, one with a perfectly centered card on top and the other with an OC card on top, you should go with the centered pack, as there is at least some correlation most of the time.

70ToppsFanatic

<< <i>Centering on top card is a decent indicator but is far from guaranteed. I have opened cello packs in which top card was nicely centered and next card was badly OC and vice versa. It does seem to have more consistency with certain issues like 1970 cellos than others like late 70s cellos. I'd say that centering of top card in a cello pack has more to do with aesthetic appeal for an unopened collector than anything else, but if you have a choice between two cellos, one with a perfectly centered card on top and the other with an OC card on top, you should go with the centered pack, as there is at least some correlation most of the time. >>



I'd agree with Tim on this. Mostly the centering of the top and bottom cards are reasonable predictors of what would be in the pack because card sequences in each cello are usually cut from the same sheet.

For example, a 1970 cello is supposed to contain three 11-card sequences. One is from the left "half" of the production sheet. One is form the right "half" of the production sheet. And the "middle" sequence is usually a "mix" from both halves of the production sheet. The cards from the sequences that are from only 1 "half" tend to be pretty
consistent with the exposed card. The cards from the middle (i.e. unseen) sequence come from multiple sheets, and therefore tend to exhibit a bit more variation.

These are general observations, but from time-to-time there are exceptions. For example, I opened a 1970 cello with a team card showing on top that was basically 100/0 LR and the card beneath it (Willie Mays as it happens) was significantly better at about 75/25-80/20 TB (the team cards were "landscape" versus the player cards being "portrait").

Hope that helps

Constantine

Thank you both for the solid opinion/thoughts.