1970s Topps baseball seller sheets
grote15
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I wanted to share a few of these seller sheets I recently picked up~these were distributed as promotional flyers to local retailers to promote various Topps based products and what I like most about these is that they contain all of the product code information and details about case count, card count, etc, in addition to pricing.
I am a collector of wax trays, especially the tougher years (pre-1978), and those of you who also collect trays know just how difficult it is to find any trays from the mid 1970s. The following three seller sheets span the years 1974 through 1976. A case of wax trays consisted of two 24-count boxes with three packs to each individual tray, for a total of 144 packs per case (the equivalent of four full wax boxes). For 1974 trays, the retailer purchase price was only 9 bucks per case, enabling the store owner to clear a profit of $5.40 for every case sold. Terms were 2% down within 15 days with balance due in 30 days for an order of 20 cases. 74 trays consisted of 3 10c wax packs with 8 cards per pack plus one team checklist.
For 1975 trays, the price per pack was changed by Topps to 15c, so the retailer price per case was also raised to $13.50 for 48 trays.
1976 wax trays are often mistaken for 1974 trays as Topps reused the wrapper design from 1974 that year, but an easy way to tell the difference is by checking the pack price (76 trays contain three 15c packs as opposed to three 10c packs) and the cardboard backing of the tray itself, which was changed in 1975 to coincide with the price change for packs.
I am a collector of wax trays, especially the tougher years (pre-1978), and those of you who also collect trays know just how difficult it is to find any trays from the mid 1970s. The following three seller sheets span the years 1974 through 1976. A case of wax trays consisted of two 24-count boxes with three packs to each individual tray, for a total of 144 packs per case (the equivalent of four full wax boxes). For 1974 trays, the retailer purchase price was only 9 bucks per case, enabling the store owner to clear a profit of $5.40 for every case sold. Terms were 2% down within 15 days with balance due in 30 days for an order of 20 cases. 74 trays consisted of 3 10c wax packs with 8 cards per pack plus one team checklist.
For 1975 trays, the price per pack was changed by Topps to 15c, so the retailer price per case was also raised to $13.50 for 48 trays.
1976 wax trays are often mistaken for 1974 trays as Topps reused the wrapper design from 1974 that year, but an easy way to tell the difference is by checking the pack price (76 trays contain three 15c packs as opposed to three 10c packs) and the cardboard backing of the tray itself, which was changed in 1975 to coincide with the price change for packs.
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.
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Now that we have those minuscule figures in hand, here comes the inevitable three-parter for ya:
In your estimation, what would a sealed case of each year fetch today?
you'll never be able to outrun a bad diet
George Brett, Roger Clemens and Tommy Brady.
My favorite place to buy was a small drug store called "Hooks" or something like that. The wax packs were in the candy aisle. Hooks is long gone, but to this day, I still occasionally stroll down the candy aisle of the local drug store just to relive those memories (the candy smells mixed with the shampoo and soap smells) of buying those packs and to see if maybe, just maybe, there might be a box of packs sitting there waiting to be bought again. I dream on.
Stephen~that is a great question. I would estimate value of these wax tray cases, if one for each year were found, as follows:
74: 80K
75: 85K
76: 40K
Those are just rough estimates based on current value of a single tray from each year with a nice premium for the full case. As these have never been found in case form over the past 30 years, at least, to my knowledge, the values could very well be higher. Heck, when was the last time anyone even saw a 74 or 75 (legit) tray?
Here's another interesting sheet from 1974. The standard price for a wax pack in 1974 was 10c (all 74 trays consist of three 10c packs), but Topps did produce some 15c packs later that year in advance of the 15c price change that would take effect the following year for all wax packs. As the seller sheet confirms, these 15c packs contained 12 cards per pack plus a team checklist (instead of 8 plus the checklist as noted in the wax tray sheet above) and each box contained 24 packs (instead of 36). Cost per box to the retailer? A paltry $2.25 (allowing for a $1.35 profit per box)!!
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.
Thanks for sharing, Tim! I started noticing/collecting cards in 1978 and continued until 1981 (I call it stage 1 of my collecting experience). I don't remember ever seeing the wax trays in the late 70's and early '80's. What I do remember is the smaller stores, such as drug stores and candy shops, and grocery stores carrying mostly wax and some cello. The bigger toy stores in the malls only sold racks, as I remember. Out of the three types of packaging (wax, cello, and rack), cello was the least common type I remember seeing. Perhaps they didn't sell well back in the day. Personally, I didn't care for the cellos or see the point of them, maybe because I didn't see them as worth the price (I don't remember). I was only into wax and rack.
My favorite place to buy was a small drug store called "Hooks" or something like that. The wax packs were in the candy aisle. Hooks is long gone, but to this day, I still occasionally stroll down the candy aisle of the local drug store just to relive those memories (the candy smells mixed with the shampoo and soap smells) of buying those packs and to see if maybe, just maybe, there might be a box of packs sitting there waiting to be bought again. I dream on.
Nick, I love this recollection~I know exactly that feeling you are recapturing. The wooden floorboards creaking underfoot as you peruse the shelves lining the store and work your way up to the register. In NY, it was McCrory's department store~I'd flip through all the racks (and cellos, if they had them in stock), looking for Mets on top or superstars like Schmidt, Bench, Ryan, and in 1981, as I still recall, Joe Charboneau, LOL!
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.
Shane
These would look great inside the overlay of the unikeep binders.
For 1974, I thought the packs I bought were still 10 cards for $0.10.
I never saw a wax tray in the Philadelphia area (pre 79 and 83 forward) nor Houston (79-86).
Most 74 packs were indeed 10c. The 15c packs were a limited production run later that year to test public reaction to the 15c price point that would go into effect the following year. At least they added 4 extra cards per pack so both wax boxes contained the same number of cards (288).
Brent, I will need to FIND these wax tray cases first~that may take me an eternity to begin with, lol..
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.
To be honest, no direction, but...
1966-69 Topps EX+
1975 minis NrMt Kelloggs PSA 9
All Topps Heritage-Master Sets
Brent, I will need to FIND these wax tray cases first~that may take me an eternity to begin with, lol..
I can wait, lol
Check out the paneling on the wall behind those kids. That is certainly a sign of those times. I remember we had that at our house growing up in the late 70's and early 80's.
Reminds me of my room growing up, except the paneling was blue.
Thanks for sharing, Tim! I've been adding some of the seller/ad sheets for sets I collect as well. They make great companion pieces.
Those are very cool sheets and it fun to read how Topps tried to sell these to retailers.
Jeremy
I wanted to share a few of these seller sheets I recently picked up~these were distributed as promotional flyers to local retailers to promote various Topps based products and what I like most about these is that they contain all of the product code information and details about case count, card count, etc, in addition to pricing.
I am a collector of wax trays, especially the tougher years (pre-1978), and those of you who also collect trays know just how difficult it is to find any trays from the mid 1970s. The following three seller sheets span the years 1974 through 1976. A case of wax trays consisted of two 24-count boxes with three packs to each individual tray, for a total of 144 packs per case (the equivalent of four full wax boxes). For 1974 trays, the retailer purchase price was only 9 bucks per case, enabling the store owner to clear a profit of $5.40 for every case sold. Terms were 2% down within 15 days with balance due in 30 days for an order of 20 cases. 74 trays consisted of 3 10c wax packs with 8 cards per pack plus one team checklist.
For 1975 trays, the price per pack was changed by Topps to 15c, so the retailer price per case was also raised to $13.50 for 48 trays.
1976 wax trays are often mistaken for 1974 trays as Topps reused the wrapper design from 1974 that year, but an easy way to tell the difference is by checking the pack price (76 trays contain three 15c packs as opposed to three 10c packs) and the cardboard backing of the tray itself, which was changed in 1975 to coincide with the price change for packs.
Grote...it was fun looking at the advertisement pieces. Thx 4 sharing...thoroughly enjoyed it!
I also enjoy reading the recollections of collectors, too~thanks for posting yours, jmmiller!
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.
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.
Price on the sheet for a 75 case is $16.20, not $18.20 as you said. Stop trying to raise the price Tim!
LOL, you're right! It's been two years since I got these glasses~I think I need to make another appointment!
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.