1990 Donruss - Introduction to My * Theory

hotmush · April 21, 2010 2:44PM

Hi everyone. As you may know there has been some long debate over the (period) punctuation variation on the Incorporated typeset on the backs of 1990 Donruss cards. My theory is that the presence of a period is actually the CANADIAN version of the Donruss release.
In 1990 Donruss (like Fleer did in 1990) tried to crack the Canadian market. And they did this buy selling smaller boxes with smaller packs and with less cards. Here is my "proof":
This is a pack of "Canadian" 1990 Donruss cards, I purchased this yesterday out of a card vending machine (for $0.50) from a Canadian Tire store in Toronto. (notice there are only 10 cards per pack as opposed to the regular 15).

Now...
Upon opening this pack... here are the card backs...
Notice the PRESENCE of (period) on the "INC."
Alright, I know I'm long-shotting. But is it possible the (.) variation is the Canadian variation (and does anyone notice any difference in the black line length (or speckle pattern) on the front of the cards for these scans? Or anything else?) These are confirmed CANADIAN-RELEASE cards, so scour away, folks.
Most importantly, can anyone confirm a card out of a 15-card-per-pack regular 1990 Donruss pack has the period as well.

sportscardtheory · April 21, 2010 2:59PM

Didn't they already crack the Canadian market with their previous Leaf releases though?

hotmush · April 21, 2010 3:05PM

Yes, until 1988. However, they stopped releasing dedicated LEAF sets after that. Of course, some of my fave sets are 1985-88 Canadian Leaf sets, but after that they inexplicable stopped. But in my estimation, with the height of the sports card market happening in 1989... they changed their minds. In 1990, you have the English/French Score Hockey cards, the NFL Topps football cards in OPC wrappers for the Canadian market, the large 792-count Topps/OPC cards for the Canadian market, the 660 Printed in Canada Fleer Baseball cards for the Canadian Market. So I'm wondering if Donruss/Leaf had a change of heart. It's clear, they printed a different wrapper for the Canadian Market in 1990... I'm just wondering if the wrapper was the only thing different.

TNP777 · April 21, 2010 3:17PM

I'm pretty sure it's a wax vs. factory set situation, although it could be US vs. Canadian as well I suppose. Each card is available with two different 'splatter' patterns around the border, and each of those is available with the INC/INC. variation.

edited to clarify 'wax vs. factory set' instead of 'retail vs. hobby'

hotmush · April 21, 2010 3:34PM

TNP, thanks for the insight, I know this is "junk wax" to some, but this is fascinating to me (having enjoyed Summer and Bunch's detective work over the years). Perhaps we can come together and make some definitive conclusions that PSA will eventually recognize. Heck, I mean, if they are finally starting to recognize 1981 OPC Greyback baseball, who knows! Right? Power to the collectors!

ElToroLoco · April 21, 2010 3:39PM

So factory/wax, USA/Canadian, 1990/McDonalds............ over 1 billion served

hotmush · April 21, 2010 3:55PM

HA! ElToroLoco, totally right. But, again, I totally feel it's up to us to figure out the differences in the releases, however subtle.

MattinglyStash · April 21, 2010 10:00PM

This same issue (INC. vs INC) is in 1989 Donruss. Along with the *Denotes* vs. *Denotes.

mtcards · April 22, 2010 12:06AM

Dont forget the Learning Series, more Donruss cards from 1990!!!

TNP777 · April 22, 2010 12:50AM

<< <i>This same issue (INC. vs INC) is in 1989 Donruss. Along with the *Denotes* vs. *Denotes. >>

Yep. INC/INC. also occurs in 1991 and 1992.

minnesotahusker · April 22, 2010 2:47AM

You can get PSA to recognize the difference, but I know I personally am not interested in submitting ANY 1990 Donruss cards. Don't know about anyone else.

jacksoncoupage · April 22, 2010 2:59AM

I can say that as recently as 2008, while attempting to compile a master set, that I pulled both INC and INC. types out of the same box - on multiple occasions. Though this doesn't debunk your theory (the INCs could've been intended for Canada), it makes it very unlikely.

Also, I have a "working master set" that I barely pay any attention to anymore, and I can say for certain that a handful of cards are almost impossible to find in the INC variety, mostly specific Diamond King subset cards (1-27). I think I can only account for 5-6 of the 27 players having both varieties. Many collectors have emailed me their 1989-1991 Donruss want lists and those missing DK numbers are always on them - so their existence is questionable at this point.

These missing INC varieties are pretty much the reason I stopped working on the master set. I seriously doubt that Donruss would only produce some of the 1990 cards for Canada.

TNP-

Are you saying that the factory "splatter" version comes in both INC and INC. versions? I have never found an INC type in any factory set. Please clarify.

Also, keep in mind that the Yaz puzzle cards come with a period or without a period next to the number on each piece.

tunahead08 · April 22, 2010 3:16AM

<< <i>You can get PSA to recognize the difference, but I know I personally am not interested in submitting ANY 1990 Donruss cards. Don't know about anyone else. >>

I would sub the 1990 test issues

1990 Donruss - Introduction to My * Theory

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