In October 2007, Mastro’s Classic Collector Auction offered a fascinating lot: “1962 Topps Metal Printing-Plate Proofs Baltimore Colts Collection (10 Different) Including Two Unitas Cards!”
Two years later, Huggins & Scott Auctions resold nine of these plates for $200, describing them as 3/4 of the team set, missing only #2, 4, and 12. The plates included: #1 Unitas, #3 Hawkins, #5 Berry, #6 Myhra, #7 Gilburg, #8 Marchetti, #9 Pellington, #10 Nelson, and #11 Harris. Condition averaged EX to EX-MT.
It appears the original buyer kept the Unitas plate with his name in black ink.
Below, each plate is shown alongside its final production card, sourced from TCDB, offering a rare glimpse into Topps’ 1962 printing process.
Happy collecting!
P.S. Heritage sold a 1962 Topps Printing Plate of Jim Brown for $215.10 in May 2012.
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