Has anybody seen a Topps 3-card strip like this?

jrdolan · December 9, 2004 1:22AM

The obvious explanation is that it was cut out of a '75 sheet before it was manhandled and got worn corners. But is there another possibility?

charliehustle14 · December 9, 2004 1:36AM

JR...Looks like a "Salesman's Sample".

Todd

Griffins · December 9, 2004 1:48AM

Topps ran sheets in the 70's (and probably from the time they switched to the now standard size card in '57) that included 132 cards- 12 cards x 11 cards, vertically. The sheets I have contain 66 different, and repeat those 66 on the same sheet.
Any panel containing less than 132 would be presumed to have been cut off the full press sheet. I"m sure this is the case with this one.
I've never seen salesman samples (3-8 card panels with ad copy on the back) issued more recently than 1966. The oldest I've seen is '52 Topps. Others could certainly exist, I've only been following these for the last 5 years.
Anyone else collect sheets, panels, or any other uncut material here?

royalbrett · December 9, 2004 2:27AM

I don't collect them, but I have some 1982 Topps 6 card panels.

mikeschmidt · December 9, 2004 2:32AM

Anthony:

I hereby proclaim myself as the worldwide expert on 1955 Bowman Salesman's Samples.

As it's only me (I believe) who has any quantity of this stuff - my limited knowledge is probably quite inaccurate and wanting of more data. Approximately 80% of what I've encountered are the three-card strips after they have been (sloppily) separated. What makes it even worse is that many of the separated cards were not distributed, as evidenced by the fact that I own a few subsets of three cards whose sloppy cuts fit together perfectly to make a panel.

CON40 · December 9, 2004 2:43AM

John;
Is the back of the strip the standard card backs? If so, it was likely cut from a sheet, but it could be something else...

I collect 6-card Topps sheets with Ryan on them that were originally inserted in "Scholastic Magazine" and distributed in schools (As if Topps needed more subversive marketing than gum to get kids to buy!). These were available in the late '70s and early '80s. The backs are standard, but the sheet has a fold with a staple mark where it was stitched into the magazine. I don;t have a '75 so I can't be certain, but yours may be some variation of that type of insert.

Stone193 · December 9, 2004 8:02AM

<< <i>Has anybody seen a Topps 3-card strip like this? >>

John
What is on the back. As Griff had said, the salesman samples that are vintage are stamped on the back - the coolest one I have seen of a sample is the 53T Mantle - they wanted too much for me to pay.
If it is blank backed, then it may be a proof - I collect those and they come direct from Topps - I like the three panel proofs better than the color proofs.

75T 3-card panel/blank backed Jabbar

If I were to guess, if the backs are regular issue, it was probably privately cut?

your friend
Mike

royalbrett · December 9, 2004 11:16AM

<< <i>

I collect 6-card Topps sheets with Ryan on them that were originally inserted in "Scholastic Magazine" and distributed in schools (As if Topps needed more subversive marketing than gum to get kids to buy!). These were available in the late '70s and early '80s. The backs are standard, but the sheet has a fold with a staple mark where it was stitched into the magazine. I don;t have a '75 so I can't be certain, but yours may be some variation of that type of insert. >>

I have around 10 or so of the 1982 Topps 6 card panels. Only one has the fold and staple mark, the rest don't.
I'm sure you have already seen these:

jrdolan · December 9, 2004 11:35AM

The backs are regular '75 Topps. The person I got it from said a Topps employee gave it to him many years ago but he didn't know anything else about it. I paid almost nothing because it's not in good shape, so no big deal. Just curious.

Stone193 · December 9, 2004 11:50AM

<< <i> I paid almost nothing because it's not in good shape, so no big deal. Just curious. >>

Still a fun item for the Bench collector and a keeper!

your friend
Mike

NickM · December 9, 2004 2:46PM

I have a rather worn 6-card panel (3 across by 2 down) from '75 Topps with standard card backs. I was told it was a promotional sample. I consider it a very interesting item because it has 2 HOFers on it - Fingers and Brooks Robinson.

I have no idea whether these were made from all sheets, or just selected ones.

Nick

Has anybody seen a Topps 3-card strip like this?

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