WTF... I will legit never spend money on a 1-of-1 again!!!

epatmythes

What the heck happened here? How is this even possible? How can this even be allowed to exist in the hobby?

The PSA/DNA blue flip clearly appears to be the same card, but instead of being numbered 1/1, it has an MLB authenticated sticker in it's place? The card also appears to have a modern Mike Trout signature... not a 2011-ish autograph!

So much wrong here... geez... shm

Legit 1/1
ebay.com/itm/MIKE-TROUT-1-1-SUPERFRACTOR-RC-AUTO-TRUE-1-1-2011-TOPPS-FINEST-/311823776185?hash=item489a2539b9:g:WZIAAOSwWxNYyJKV

Same 1/1, but not a 1/1, but it's a legit card?!?!?
ebay.com/itm/Mike-Trout-2011-Topps-Finest-Superfractor-RC-Signed-AUTOGRAPHED-PSA-DNA-9-Mint-/292083140729?hash=item4401830879:g:Rt8AAOSwB-1Y7Rbs

Yeah, I'm done with this type of nonsense... Topps... go figure

epatmythes

Purchased from Topps back door unsigned...

Shame on you TOPPS!!!

byronscott4ever

Or it's cut from a sheet?

epatmythes

@byronscott4ever said:
Or it's cut from a sheet?

No, he has in the description that he purchased the card from Topps through the back door unsigned.

Topps be shady as hell I guess

ldferg

Is this normal?

_> Just want to clarify where this card came from as there have been a lot of questions in regards to this being the 1/1 inserted in the packs. This card is a Topps Proto-type that was purchased from Topps back door unsigned and without the 1/1 stamp. Then I had it signed by Mike Trout at a signing that he did. This card is nearly identical to the $25,000 1/1 listed on ebay, the only difference is that it did not come in a pack, and it does not have the 1/1 on the back. _

epatmythes

I wouldn't think this is normal. Geez, I hope it's not normal.

The cards aren't nearly identical... they are identical, sans the 1/1 stamp. It wouldn't have taken a whole lot of trouble to get an identical 1/1 stamp applied to the card. Kudos, at least, to the seller of the current card for not going that route.

Conversely, if I was the true owner of the legitimate, pack-pulled 1/1... I'd be very upset that Topps allowed 2 versions of the exact same superfractor to find its way into the free market.

JoeBanzai

Stuff has been coming out the "back door" from Topps (and all the other companies who manufacture collectibles) forever! I have a 1967 Standup that most certainly wasn't from a pack, and it's one of my favorite "cards". Graded as authentic by PSA too!

I don't see the sanity in the newer autographed cards going for thousands of dollars. If you have $20,000.00 (or more) to spend on a single card you can claim is "1 of 1" and aren't aware of the hobby facts, I am sorry, but I just don't have any sympathy for you. What happens if Mike Trout, in this example, ever gets caught on video doing something "inappropriate"?

The stamped 1 of 1 is obviously still a one of a kind item.

I got sick of the manufactured rarities about 15 years ago. Same card with a little extra gloss, maybe a different color background and a number stamped on it? It wasn't bad at first when there would be one parallel set or an insert here and there, but now it's 1 of 500, 1 of 250, 1of 100, and so on.

Don't get me wrong, I am not bashing how you have fun collecting. I wish I had the extra funds to spend on the hobby.

fur72

Does anyone have any idea where Topps prints their cards? Guessing a lot of "waste" could go out the door easily.

ElvisP

Found a while back many if it not most if not all 1/1's have the same card numbered to 10, 25 etc so is it a true 1/1 if the same card exists, only numbered differently?

vols1

Topps subcontracts out the printing. Probably half a dozen cards of every card is made to test the print quality.

72skywalker

I used to work at a printing company and we were printing the new Harry Potter books. We had to hire security guards at the end of each press to make sure that no one took a book or even opened it up to reads the last few pages. Topps should do something like this.

bishop

Note to self.... good advice from OP