1989 Topps Blackless

Robb · May 16, 2010 12:49PM

LINK to one of the eBay listings.

I've never heard of such and a search of the forum didn't yield anything. All of his listings are private. Red flags or legit cards?

mikeschmidt · May 16, 2010 1:04PM

Never heard of this before -- perhaps a scrap sheet or something was backdoored and subsequently cut up? Sometimes -- if it is too rare or unknown, it does not become very desirable.

In many collecting instances, having a realistic shot at putting together a whole set becomes a critical gating factor. Here, we do not even have what seems to be formal acknowledgment of this as a known variation.

richtree · May 16, 2010 1:13PM

they are all blank back....FYI

richtree · May 16, 2010 1:16PM

Just a side note I have dealt with that dealer many times and never any problems.

All cards grade pretty high too...

But the 89's seem to come out of nowhere....

the weirdest thing is when he says only 1 of 5....etc....

how does he know only 5 of them ? ? is this something special we don't know about ? Kinda seems like he is holding somethin back there...

yankeeno7 · May 16, 2010 2:03PM

I can think of only 2 possible scenerios...
1. They are fake
2. Someone at Topps slipped sheets out the back door that were part of proof printing process and they were cut up into individual cards.

TNP777 · May 16, 2010 2:56PM

looks like he's going to auction off what he claims are the 65 cards that are available as a blackless variation over the rest of the month. I wonder what the rest of the list looks like (read: I wonder if there's a Butler).

hammered · May 16, 2010 2:56PM

Red flags all over the place
For instance, he's got Sil Campusano blackless listed at 19.75, yet Fred Manrique blackless is only 17.30.
Now you won't find a bigger Sil Campusano fan than myself, but there's NO WAY he's $2.45 better than Fred Manrique - NO FRIGGIN WAY
Then he's got Zane Smith up there at 24.79, which to me, is totally fine. Because you can never go wrong with Zane Smith.
But what's up with putting Manny Lee at the bottom of the pile at only 16.78, or 2.06 less than Scott Bankhead blackless? Now come on, who's card would you rather have - Scott Bankhead's, or Manny Lee's? EXACTLY.
Yeah, something's not right with this guy.
I'd stay away.
Hope that helped

bobsbbcards · May 16, 2010 10:24PM

<< Red flags all over the place
For instance, he's got Sil Campusano blackless listed at 19.75, yet Fred Manrique blackless is only 17.30.
Now you won't find a bigger Sil Campusano fan than myself, but there's NO WAY he's $2.45 better than Fred Manrique - NO FRIGGIN WAY
Then he's got Zane Smith up there at 24.79, which to me, is totally fine. Because you can never go wrong with Zane Smith.
But what's up with putting Manny Lee at the bottom of the pile at only 16.78, or 2.06 less than Scott Bankhead blackless? Now come on, who's card would you rather have - Scott Bankhead's, or Manny Lee's? EXACTLY.
Yeah, something's not right with this guy.
I'd stay away.
Hope that helped >>

1989FleerBillRipkencollector · May 16, 2010 11:09PM

I've seen this seller with numerous error and printing flaw cards.

Like everyone else said, sounds like a backdoored unfinished product. If it had the back, I'd lean more towards pack issued.

Looks like a good chance to show my missing ink card (it has the back).

UlyssesExtravaganza · May 16, 2010 11:17PM

I don't think you get blank back cards in packs too often or ever so my guess would be as others have said, proof sheet that went out the back door and was subsequently cut up. They also look a little to centered to have actually been cut by Topps. Once or twice maybe but that many raises a red flag. I think these could be a nice item for someone who understands what they have and doesn't want them PSA graded but if the goal is to get them in PSA slabs, I think the buyer would be very disappointed. And agreed that Zane Smith is a Hall of Fame commoner that should be priced the highest among those gentlemen.

yankeeno7 · May 16, 2010 11:21PM

PSA wont slab blank backs anyway

Barfvader · May 16, 2010 11:48PM

<< l(read: I wonder if there's a Butler). >>

No Butler

bishop · May 16, 2010 11:53PM

<< Red flags all over the place

Yeah, something's not right with this guy.

Just Fred being Fred. Long time seller of blackless and blueless to the clueless....like me

He did help me put together a full 82 Topps blackless set and part of an 85 Topps mini redback set

wallst32 · May 16, 2010 11:59PM

Are the backs completely blank (gray-ish color); or are they just missing just the black ink? If I recall, the backs on 89T are red with black in. Anyways, it's just a printing flaw no matter if they left the backdoor of made it into packs; not likley to be a desirable collectible.

Rogermnj · May 17, 2010 12:21AM

I can shed some light on these

This was my sheet that I posted a scan of on these boards a few months ago. I sold it for $75 to this guy. He cut it up.

Soon you will see ripken, ozzie smith and eddie murray. The 3 hof's that were on this sheet.

This was an original sheet that came from topps. It was part of the collection i purchased from a former topps employee.

TNP777 · May 17, 2010 1:10AM

and that, my friends, is all the provenance needed. Do remember if there was a Butler on that sheet, Roger?

richtree · May 17, 2010 1:20AM

<< and that, my friends, is all the provenance needed. Do remember if there was a Butler on that sheet, Roger? >>

3

No Butler ! LOL.

1989FleerBillRipkencollector · May 17, 2010 1:53AM

lol Asked the seller why he failed to mention he hand cut these from the sheet. Guess he thinks it was my sheet. Here's his reply...

"WHY DID YOU SELL THE SHEET SO CHEAP ?? IT WAS WORTH $1,500 +++ "

AUPT · May 17, 2010 2:10AM

Simple printing error. Since Topps printed on 132-card sheets, how is it there are only 65 different?

FWIW, it'll never get listed in the Standard Catalog.

richtree · May 17, 2010 2:17AM

<< lol Asked the seller why he failed to mention he hand cut these from the sheet. Guess he thinks it was my sheet. Here's his reply...

"WHY DID YOU SELL THE SHEET SO CHEAP ?? IT WAS WORTH $1,500 +++ " >>

Yeah, true. From what I hear the seller is simply someone that deals with re-selling product for many people that don't want to sell items.

Its very apparent his #1 priority is to make money. I do not fault someone that uses zeal to list there item in anyway. I think the buyers have to take responsibity to due the research.

My only problem with the listings are that no where does it say it was hand cut.

1989FleerBillRipkencollector · May 17, 2010 4:33AM

<< 

<< lol Asked the seller why he failed to mention he hand cut these from the sheet. Guess he thinks it was my sheet. Here's his reply...

"WHY DID YOU SELL THE SHEET SO CHEAP ?? IT WAS WORTH $1,500 +++ " >>

Yeah, true. From what I hear the seller is simply someone that deals with re-selling product for many people that don't want to sell items.

Its very apparent his #1 priority is to make money. I do not fault someone that uses zeal to list there item in anyway. I think the buyers have to take responsibity to due the research.

My only problem with the listings are that no where does it say it was hand cut. >>

Mine as well.

Robb · May 17, 2010 7:36AM

Sounds like something I'll avoid. I may show some interest if he relists with a 99 cent starting bid.

yankeeno7 · May 17, 2010 7:57AM

I have a 1992 Fleer Clemens insert sheet without the gold stamping. Would it be more profitable for me to cut that up and sell individual cards?

waxpack · May 17, 2010 8:15AM

Topps Blackless cards are worth money to the right person. I know 82 Topps Blackless are around.

I found out about them when I subbed an 82 Topps George Brett. The card came back PSA 8 with Blackless listed on the flip.

1982 Topps Blackless

1989FleerBillRipkencollector · May 17, 2010 8:28AM

'82 Blackless has enough out there to create interest. Unsure if those were pack pulled but I think so.

This '89...is a full sheet that was cut up. To my knowledge there are not any others out there. Printers scrap backdoored.

I'd love to get me some 89 Fleer Ripken printers scrap. To the forum member/lurker with the Black Box blank back, I'm still willing to buy if your willing to sell..

bishop · May 17, 2010 8:28AM

The ebay seller is a conduit for the owner, who used to sell direct on ebay. Don'y know why he changed, since his feedback was also 100 %. The owner had a wide ranging collection of error/ variation cards, mostly from the 70s and 80s. I did buy some stuff from him to complete my 82 Blackless, 85 Minis ( blank and regular backs), 84 Encased, and one of my 80 Yellows. He knows his stuff, but agree there should have been info on the hand cutting. Most of his 84 Encased were also hand cuts, although his 82 Blackless were mostly from packs. He is dependable but puts a high value on his cards, as you will see when the 89 "star"cards make their debut.

WinPitcher · May 17, 2010 8:31AM

+1 for a Bishop sighting.

Steve

1989FleerBillRipkencollector · May 17, 2010 8:33AM

Thread with sheet pics

bishop · May 20, 2010 2:10AM

If it was not there before, he now says thay came from a sheet ( like the 84 Encased blank backs)....if your eyes don't wear out before you get to it

richtree · May 20, 2010 10:09AM

<< If it was not there before, he now says thay came from a sheet ( like the 84 Encased blank backs)....if your eyes don't wear out before you get to it >>

PS -- HEY Bishop, u know that "seller" he works for .... i reached out to him numerous times, everyway I knew ..... and no responses....

and is inactive now

1989 Topps Blackless

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