PWE :(

I’ve been building a PSA set of ’81 O-Pee-Chee hockey stickers for awhile now and my goal is to get the key cards out of the way first, Gretzky 209, 252, and 264, as well as Bourque 49 (which is a PAIN to find – and when they show up they have either a miscut or crease and/or are poorly centered) After these key expensive cards are out of the way, I will begin to put money into the rest of the set for grading.
A few weeks ago I sniped an eBay auction for 4 packs of 1981 O-Pee-Chee Stickers. Usually the stickers sell for 15-25.00/pack – so the good news is I got a steal on this listing for $7.05 ($1.76/pack) bad news is…well, see the picture.

PWE, NO cardboard, nothing but the packs! $3.00 paid in shipping BTW. Quebec seller.
To add salt to the wound, see this second picture. The Bourque # 49 rookie sticker is showing.

Now I don’t know if I will even open the pack with the Bourque. I am thinking maybe hold onto it and wait until PSA slabs sticker packs?
A few weeks ago I sniped an eBay auction for 4 packs of 1981 O-Pee-Chee Stickers. Usually the stickers sell for 15-25.00/pack – so the good news is I got a steal on this listing for $7.05 ($1.76/pack) bad news is…well, see the picture.

PWE, NO cardboard, nothing but the packs! $3.00 paid in shipping BTW. Quebec seller.
To add salt to the wound, see this second picture. The Bourque # 49 rookie sticker is showing.

Now I don’t know if I will even open the pack with the Bourque. I am thinking maybe hold onto it and wait until PSA slabs sticker packs?
0
Comments
(good luck with your packs!)
come on there's a PSA 9 in there waiting for you
collecting RAW Topps baseball cards 1952 Highs to 1972. looking for collector grade (somewhere between psa 4-7 condition). let me know what you have, I'll take it, I want to finish sets, I must have something you can use for trade.
looking for Topps 71-72 hi's-62-53-54-55-59, I have these sets started
link to auction
collecting RAW Topps baseball cards 1952 Highs to 1972. looking for collector grade (somewhere between psa 4-7 condition). let me know what you have, I'll take it, I want to finish sets, I must have something you can use for trade.
looking for Topps 71-72 hi's-62-53-54-55-59, I have these sets started
Are these rare in general, or only in high grade?
<< <i>Wow. The cut on that Bourque really is bad.
Are these rare in general, or only in high grade? >>
They were released in Quebec and Ontario in order for OPC to "test the market." Due to the sticker's success, OPC Canada and Topps USA began releasing them in '82. Being a trial issue, the 1981 OPC Stickers were short printed and are difficult to find, especially since they were mostly peeled and placed in albums. Common problems such as factory miscuts, bubbling, sensitive paper stock, and being poorly centered make them difficult to find in at least nm-mt condition.
Here is the description from Beckett, which I believe is not giving the stickers, especially the '81 issue, enough credit.
"Similar in size and format to the baseball and football stickers of recent years, this 269-sticker set featured foil cards of significant events and star players. Stickers measured approximately 1 15/16" by 2 9/16". The backs printed in both English and French contained the card number, the player's name and team, an advertisement for an O-Pee-Chee hockey sticker album, and a 1981 O-Pee-Chee copyright date. The sticker number also appeared within the border at the lower left corner on the front. On the inside back cover of the sticker album the company offered (via direct mail-order) any ten different stickers (but no more than two foil) of your choice for one dollar; this is one reason why the values of the most popular players in these sticker sets are somewhat depressed compared to traditional card set prices."
The "snow" on the pants, etc is not on the sticker but is on the top loader.
Sorry Patrick but this is not for sale. I know someone that may have some of these boxes. I will need to check and make sure they are not the 1982 stickers though. If he does, he will not know what they actually go for and I may get them for a good price. I will find out if he has any and let you know next week.
Bob
email bcmiller7@comcast.net
<< <i>I guess I should get this Bourque graded.
...
Sorry Patrick but this is not for sale. .
That's just cruel. Nice card. Err, sticker.
<< <i>..errr, sticker. >>
lol
Here are the Gretzky's from my set. I guess these three could be called "the good, the bad and the ugly". Any others from this set that are difficult to get in higher condition?
Thanks,
Bob
email bcmiller7@comcast.net
Mike Bossy 158 and especially 253 are hard to get ones. Kurri Rc #'s 11 and 211 as well as Messier 210 are good to get graded.
email bcmiller7@comcast.net
<< <i>Very nice Bourque and Bossy. Patrick I will fight you for them if they go up for sale. ;o) >>
looking forward to the challenge
email bcmiller7@comcast.net