In April 2004, Mastro offered these three 1962 Topps Mars Attacks Panels for sale in their Americana Premier Catalog Auction.
Eight years later, REA would resell them for $5,629.
Here’s the complete description from ’04:
This amazing discovery, completely new to the hobby, consists of three original, uncut panels of 1962 Topps Mars Attacks cards. Likely used as “proof” pieces late in the manufacturing process, all three cardstock sheets exhibit finished and fully printed card designs on the front sides, and all have clean, blank backs. Aficionados of the issue are well-acquainted with the bright, graphic illustrations of Mars Attacks, which were controversial when they first appeared, and now cherished by modern hobbyists. But even the uninformed passerby will be impressed by the glorious displays of alien aggression and its consequences as projected by this unique trio of uncut sheets. Together, the panels carry 46 of the production’s 55 designs. Two of them present 20 cards in 5-by-4 card arrangements (each measuring about 18-3/4″ x 10-1/2″), and the other, smaller sheet (3-by-2, 11-1/8″ x 6″) holds six designs. One of the large sheets features the issue’s pretty girls in peril (#21 Prize Captive and #30 Trapped!’), and the other is highlighted by #19 Burning Flesh, #36 Destroying a Dog and the #55 Synopsis/Checklist card. Both of the big panels display at the Excellent to Mint level, with natural, evidence-of-handling faults apparent on a few individual cards and in the borders. The 6-card sheet (which includes card numbers 8, 25, 38, 39, 42 and 53) grades Near Mint. These fabulous relics showcase a hobby classic in a virtually never-seen state of production, and they provide an extremely rare panorama of the issue’s priceless images.
REA has also sold a pair of uncut proof sheets, one for $10,925 in the spring of 2004.
The other sold for $36k in the spring of 2016, and its provenance dates back to the 1989 Guernsey’s Topps Auction.
Happy collecting!
Don’t forget to check out more uncut sheets in the archive. Happy collecting!