1982 Topps Blackless

totallyradd

Can anyone tell me more about these cards? My friend subbed an 82 Jim Gantner (#613) and apparently it’s a blackless card. Pop reports are very low, only 2 others had been subbed. His came back a 9, the only 9 that’s been graded. (Though apparently it was mislabeled and PSA is in the process of fixing it, therefore its not in the pop report yet).

Please let me know if anyone knows about these variants. I don’t think he even knew blackless versions existed, he was just subbing cards of his favorite player.

Thanks in advance!

JBrules

Whether through faulty pre-production
work or the simple
fact that the black ink
may have run dry during printing,
exactly half of the 1982
Topps cards can be found in a
“blackless” version. All cards
on the set’s A, B and C press
sheets can be found blackless.
On regular player’s cards the
lack of black printing is most
obvious in the absence of the
facsimile autograph on front.
The thin black pinstripe around
the player photo is also missing
on those cards. On cards in
which the position was supposed
to be printed in black, it
will be missing on these variations.
All-Star cards affected by
this error will be missing the
player’s name. It is estimated
fewer than 100 of each “blackless”
card were released. Originally
cards from the A and B
sheets were found in metro
New York, while the C cards
turned up most often in the
Midwest. Cards from the C
sheet are much scarcer than
those from the A and B sheets,
although limited collector demand
for full sets has kept prices
in relative parity.

bobsbbcards

The cards definitely made it into packs. Michigan seems to have been the midwest area referred to above. Jack Morris was the toughest card for me to obtain.

I'm curious how the OP's friend figured out it was blackless if he didn't know when he submitted it and PSA mislabeled it (unless they labeled it 1982 TOPPS MIKE LUM BLACKLESS or something like that). Not doubting (who'd make something like that up?), just curious.

bishop

I put together my Blackless set in about the same time frame as Bob. Agree with Bob that Morris was toughest for me in completing the set because it is particularly hard to find in all Blackless. A long time Blackless collector/seller has one up on eBay now for $1600.

All 396 cards can be found in what one seller calls Blacklessing as well....transition cards with some grey or black showing. Not sure if graders are aware of or look for such differences.

I got most of my C sheet cards from sellers in Michigan and the As and Bs from sellers in NY. As Bob noted they did show up in packs, at least in those two locations. If you want a longish read on them look for Blackless cards for sale on eBay by the seller crstalentia and his description of them. I think he takes the view that a master set involves 404 or 405 cards because there are other front and back variants among some of the Blackless cards.

The Henderson and Ryan are pricey as well due to demand by player collectors.

bishop

Examples of Blackless cards....also Blacklessing transition cards ( the black ink ran out)....and some Blueless

totallyradd

@bobsbbcards said:

I'm curious how the OP's friend figured out it was blackless if he didn't know when he submitted it and PSA mislabeled it (unless they labeled it 1982 TOPPS MIKE LUM BLACKLESS or something like that). Not doubting (who'd make something like that up?), just curious.

He was part of a group sub, and the guy putting it together noticed it when he sent it in and informed my friend what he had, I guess. Pretty big stroke of luck considering Gantner is a fan favorite in Milwaukee, but even so it's a very low percentage of collectors here that would even consider getting his cards graded. Unless of course for a team set/complete set, or possibly his rookie card.

Time4aGansett

Great info provided on a tough issue.