Target Moon/Space cards

perkdog · November 15, 2004 11:26AM

Anybody into these? They are great cards, the artwork is fantastic on them. I dont see them too often at shows, I am putting together a raw set of whatever condition is available.

denwd1 · November 15, 2004 11:40AM

great cards! i just did a quick ebay search and theres a few lots available.

MorrellMan · November 15, 2004 1:23PM

Yes they're very cool. Perk, you may already know this, but for those who don't, there are blue backs and salmon backs. The blue back set is complete at 88 cards and can be found with the "Space" card title or the "Target: Moon" title; the salmon set is complete at 44 cards and was only issued as "Target: Moon". The salmon set numbers as follows:
1, 2, 6, 7, 17 thru 20, 23, 24, 27, 28, 30, 31, 34, 37, 38, 40, 41, 43 thru 46, 48, 51 thru 55, 60 thru 62, 64, 68, 69, 72, 73, 75, 76, 79, 80, 83, 86 & 87. The sets were all issued in 1957 and 1958; the salmon set apparently as part of a popsicle promotion. A typo in an early '80s price guide, which incorrectly cited the popsicle promotion year as 1968, led many collectors to believe that the salmon set was issued 10 years after it's blue back conterparts, but it wasn't.

A quick tip - be sure to ascertain set title and color on cards that you bid on. You can only tell that from the back of the card - many Space cards are represented as Target Moon cards and vice versa. To be safe, if there is no back scan shown, ask the seller what is on the back.

WinPitcher · November 16, 2004 12:00AM

i have the complete set of 58 target moon w/ the blue back. as mark said they have different back colors. i also believe, and i could be wrong (as it may be a shade) but they also have an orange back. from what i have seen and i own 3 of these versions they were produced for the us mkt, israel mkt, argentina mkt, and canadian. the canadian mkt were the us cards with a customs stamp on the back.

WinPitcher · November 16, 2004 12:08AM

not sure if these are simply a shade of one another but ....

card # 6 appears to be the same ink used in 64 topps baseball

MorrellMan · November 16, 2004 12:36AM

Steve - I have the same mix of salmon and orange in my set. I know you have a lot of experience with this set - do you think they are different issues? Everything else about the cards are exactly the same.

WinPitcher · November 16, 2004 1:54AM

mark the only thing i can think is maybe different print runs?

canadian

notice "space cards" not target moon

SDSportsFan · November 16, 2004 4:29AM

Back in the early 1990's, there was a find of these cards somewhere in Texas. I was lucky enough to pick up a mint condition set at the time(and I do mean mint condition) for $400 from a dealer in San Antonio. Alot of the cards were off-center as should be expected, but they are absolutely gorgeous

They're the blue back, Target: Moon versions.

The same find included a ton of 1957 Topps basketball, again in mint condition.

Steve

perkdog · November 16, 2004 5:48AM

Morrell Man,

Thanks, I am aware of the colored back's (salmon/blue) I do not know much else about the set, right now I probably have about 15 of each colored bacground, I grab a few here and there at shows, and really enjoy them. I have noticed a big diffrence in pricing for vg-ex cards ranging from $ 1 to $5, I had one guy at a show try to sell them to me for $8 apiece in ex condition (probably would have gotten a 5 grade? I will spend up to $5 a card and thats it. I buy them and throw them in a binder and really enjoy them every time I view them.

MorrellMan · November 16, 2004 6:12AM

<< <i> I had one guy at a show try to sell them to me for $8 apiece in ex condition... >>

Dealers often have an "optimistic" idea of the value of their cards...

WinPitcher · November 16, 2004 7:54AM

i will pay 8.00 for nice centered ex/mnt example
5.00 for decent centered ex condition card is abt right.

perkdog · November 16, 2004 10:31PM

OK ! ,
Anyone got any duplicates for sale? Let Me know

cb3302fan@aol.com

MorrellMan · November 17, 2004 12:11AM

Steve - I've got a couple hundred of these cards, blue and salmon/orange, and, in going through them, every salmon/orange back card has a much whiter border than the blue backs. My assumption has always been that the card stock is different for the two kinds of backs; the blue back stock is more susceptible to fading, similar to what happens to '59 Fleer cards - any ideas?

The front card here is the salmon back; the back card is the blue back.

perkdog · November 17, 2004 12:22AM

Morrell Man, A couple hundred? Are you selling any?

AwfulBits · November 17, 2004 12:50AM

The pink back cards were printed at a later date, for fun packs, i believe. They were printed with "Who am I?" and Hot Rod cards all on the same sheet and all with pink backs. So a different stock could have been used at this time.

-Mike

MorrellMan · November 17, 2004 2:28AM

Mike - that would lend credence to the hypothesis that the pink/salmon/orange skip numbered set was issued in 1968 rather than 1958 -

i wonder if anybody knows for sure????

Perkdog - turn on your PM and we can talk.

perkdog · November 17, 2004 6:56AM

Mark I am computer illiterate....I think I turned it on but im not sure.

If not please e-mail me

cb3302fan@aol.com Thank You
Paul

WinPitcher · November 21, 2004 2:10PM

PSA lists Target Moon and Space Cards from 1957 I have alwas been under the impression that they were from 1958. Anyone know of a reason that PSA would consider them as a 1957 issue.

MorrellMan · November 22, 2004 12:19AM

The Sport Americana guide says this:
"...(Space cards) were first reported in the February 1958 edition of The Card Collectors Bulletin, making likely that the set was issued in 1957. Whether Target: Moon was issued at the same time, or later, is conjecture....Target: Moon cards with salmon-collored backs were issued in a popsicle promotion in 1958."

From my recollection, the #2 Space card (featuring Laika the flying dog) was the first non-sports card I ever had, and I started collecting cards in 1957 - nickle packs of football cards and whatever else was sitting on the shelf if he ran out of football.

Cubfan · November 22, 2004 1:10AM

All I know about this set is what I have read here.

But from the above, are you saying they re-issued this set nearly 10 years after the original? And were they the same exact cards (i.e., no updated information)?

That really sounds interesting, but is believable for Topps.

Thanks for the information about this set.

WinPitcher · October 15, 2010 9:50AM

Since this was first posted we have realized that the Orange/pink/salmon backs were NOT part of a popsicle

promotion. Popsicle did have a promotion but with an entirely different set.

Also, it has been confirmed that Topps reissued (Target Moon) as a 44 card set in 68.

It is still my opinion that 3 shades can be found for the 44 card set. I have seen and have owned them.

Steve

thedutymon · October 15, 2010 9:57AM

Steve,

And as was spoken about in other threads, I and many collectors, due to one being sold by Mastro and E-Bay, (The same sheet) have seen the smoking gun, the 67/68 Full uncut sheet 1/3 Topps Hot Rods, 1/3 Who Am I?, and 1/3 Topps Salmon Back Target Moon.

Neil

Target Moon/Space cards

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