One of my favorite parts of digging through old auction catalogs is stumbling across items I’d either forgotten about or don’t remember seeing at all. This 1971 Topps Super uncut proof sheet of 12 cards, which appeared in Classic Collector’s October 2008 Internet Auction, definitely falls into that category.
The catalog description was pretty sparse, as you’d expect for an online-only auction at the time, so I’m not sure whether this sheet had printing on the reverse or was blank-backed. Either way, I can’t recall seeing another 1971 Topps Super proof sheet offered publicly. The only comparable pieces that come to mind are the handful of blank-backed proof sheets that Robert Edward Auctions sold in 2021 and 2023.
The sheet features 12 players: Fergie Jenkins, Willie Stargell, Hank Aaron, Amos Otis, Ray Fosse, Cito Gaston, Tom Seaver, Al Kaline, Harmon Killebrew, Joe Torre, Lou Piniella, and Tommy Harper. Six are Hall of Famers.
For collectors unfamiliar with the issue, 1971 Topps Supers marked the final release in Topps’ three-year Super series. The oversized cards measure 3⅛” × 5¼”, are printed on heavy cardstock with rounded corners, feature outstanding photography (some of the best Topps ever produced) and facsimile autographs on the fronts, and have backs that are essentially enlarged versions of each player’s regular 1971 Topps card. The 63-card set includes 20 Hall of Famers. Also, I think they’re tougher to find than the 1970 Topps Supers.
If you’ve been thinking about adding the set to your collection, the good news is that complete sets can still be found on eBay for under $600, making them one of the more affordable vintage Topps issues.
Happy collecting!
Check out Uncut Sheet Archive for more!
Be First to Comment