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Question for the unopened experts on the board...

BIGBEN7BIGBEN7 Posts: 395 ✭✭✭
in Trading Cards & Memorabilia Forum
I just received my Heritage auction catalog for the November 6-8 auction. Lot number 81275 is an unopened 79/80 OPC Hockey box with still sealed tape. This description says the packs have never been touched since the tape has never been removed. This box is also wrapped by BBCE. My question to the board is how can Steve Hart be so sure these packs are legit without inspecting them? I cannot believe the tape could not have been replaced at one time. Can we be so sure this box has never been opened and the packs examined after all of these years? I am looking forward to the experts opinions.
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Comments

  • esquiresportsesquiresports Posts: 1,360 ✭✭✭
    I have had 1970s OPC wax boxes where the tape has come loose from the box. There is a residue left on the box, and the tape has unusual coloring. I don't believe it would be possible to reapply the tape and have it pass scrutiny.
    Always buying 1971 OPC Baseball packs.
  • ndleondleo Posts: 4,146 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Group Bid?
    Mike
  • PMKAYPMKAY Posts: 1,372 ✭✭


    << <i>I have had 1970s OPC wax boxes where the tape has come loose from the box. There is a residue left on the box, and the tape has unusual coloring. I don't believe it would be possible to reapply the tape and have it pass scrutiny. >>



    What if the tape was removed and reapplied or new tape was applied 3 weeks after the product came out back in 1979?
  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,739 ✭✭✭✭✭
    Ideally, you want to see the original tape affixed to the box lid but the tape can come undone over the years which doesn't mean the box is no good. The tape OPC used was a thin but heavy duty tape that was reinforced sort of like packing tape and it tended to yellow through the years.


    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.
  • BIGBEN7BIGBEN7 Posts: 395 ✭✭✭
    Grote15, if you were interested in this box would you feel satisfied the contents in the box are good without BBCE looking inside of the box? It seems it would be a big risk given what this box is going to sell for.
    image
  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,739 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>Grote15, if you were interested in this box would you feel satisfied the contents in the box are good without BBCE looking inside of the box? It seems it would be a big risk given what this box is going to sell for. >>



    Personally, I'd want the packs checked out first for a box of this value. The tape could be reaffixed upon inspection. The tape was not really meant to equate to a factory seal anyway. The only exception for me would be if box was FASC.


    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.
  • mlbfan2mlbfan2 Posts: 3,115 ✭✭✭


    << <i>My question to the board is how can Steve Hart be so sure these packs are legit without inspecting them? >>



    It's like authenticating a pack - he can't be 100% sure what's inside. The box could be filled with packs of 1988 Donruss. Maybe that's very unlikely, but if a counterfeit box doesn't exist it's probably because few people (or no people) have ever tried to counterfeit one.
  • esquiresportsesquiresports Posts: 1,360 ✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>Grote15, if you were interested in this box would you feel satisfied the contents in the box are good without BBCE looking inside of the box? It seems it would be a big risk given what this box is going to sell for. >>



    Personally, I'd want the packs checked out first for a box of this value. The tape could be reaffixed upon inspection. The tape was not really meant to equate to a factory seal anyway. The only exception for me would be if box was FASC. >>



    Not me. I think this would cost several thousand dollars in value and is a big part of what makes this such a cool item.

    Always buying 1971 OPC Baseball packs.
  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,739 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>

    << <i>

    << <i>Grote15, if you were interested in this box would you feel satisfied the contents in the box are good without BBCE looking inside of the box? It seems it would be a big risk given what this box is going to sell for. >>



    Personally, I'd want the packs checked out first for a box of this value. The tape could be reaffixed upon inspection. The tape was not really meant to equate to a factory seal anyway. The only exception for me would be if box was FASC. >>



    Not me. I think this would cost several thousand dollars in value and is a big part of what makes this such a cool item. >>



    I can understand that line of reasoning, Scott, and if it were a 78 or 79 OPC wax box, I'd agree, too. However, there is a leap of faith here on an item as valuable as this one, as the tape can easily be reaffixed if someone were looking to pull a fast one, so provenance would be key.


    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.
  • MULLINS5MULLINS5 Posts: 4,517 ✭✭✭
    You are forgetting that Steve has x-ray vision.

    Joke aside, it's a beautiful box, one of the best I've seen online!
  • Beezer12Beezer12 Posts: 104 ✭✭
    My 79 display box shows no indication of ever having tape on it. Was tape applied at the factory or later at retail for example?
  • grote15grote15 Posts: 29,739 ✭✭✭✭✭


    << <i>My 79 display box shows no indication of ever having tape on it. Was tape applied at the factory or later at retail for example? >>



    At the factory. We broke a sealed case of 1978 OPC baseball wax boxes several years back, and the box I got was taped shut at the lid. The 77 OPC baseball wax box I have has the tape actually wrapped around the middle of the box. I'd expect the tape was torn off though once the box made it to the retail store.


    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.
  • Arsenal83Arsenal83 Posts: 1,176 ✭✭✭
    What confuses me is that if the tape is still intact, how did it get the "bend in the top panel", as mentioned in the description? Does that mean the box had been opened at some point, presumably near 1979-80 and then re-taped? If that's the case, how can Steve authenticate this box just assuming the packs were undisturbed because the tape is present?

    To play devil's advocate, most of us know you can loosen tape adhesive with "Goo-off" or lighter fluid without damaging the tape itself. Is there any way to tell the tape wasn't just re-glued back into place?
  • flatfoot816flatfoot816 Posts: 2,194 ✭✭✭
    Interesting. Not sure how that box can be authenticated Based upon the tape being there only. I am with Tim on this. I would not drop $1K on it as is-let alone $50K. I would be interested to hear Steve's take on the authentication process
  • PMKAYPMKAY Posts: 1,372 ✭✭
    Could the description of the item be wrong - assuming that the packs have never been touched? If, however, that description is accurate I'd like to hear the explanation on how the box was authenticated as well.
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