Vintage unopened sports card material has been a popular segment of the hobby for a while now. One of the more prominent companies and industry leaders in the segment is the Baseball Card Exchange (BBCE), owned and operated by Steve Hart. Steve even authenticates unopened packs for PSA. In June 2020, they posted on their Facebook page about the “X-Out.”
Since not every collector has a Facebook account, I wanted to summarize their post and add more information so that everyone can learn a little more about unopened cards.
In the past, retailers pre-ordered boxes of cards, and if they didn’t sell all of them, Topps allowed them to return unsold boxes for credit.
For instance, let’s say that Topps originally distributed a Baseball Wax Box to a dealer for $20. Then, at the end of the season, Topps would allow the dealers to return that box for a $17 credit. Topps would in turn “re-sell” (blowout) those boxes to dealers for $10. (These numbers are fictitious and just used as examples). Well, they had to have a way to keep the “unsavory” dealers (there might be one or two lurking within the industry!) from buying those boxes for $10 and “re-returning” them for $17. Hence, the “X-Out” was born. When a box was returned, it was given the “X-Out”. From 1981 to 1988 Topps used various markings to identify “X-Outs” on wax, rack and cello boxes in all major sports and non-sports issues.
BBCE
1983 Topps Football X-Out Unopened Box
It seems as though they used everything from a crayon or marker to a 4” paintbrush to put an ‘X’ or a line across the top of the box. This ‘X-Out’ signified that the box had already been returned once, and it could not be returned again.
BBCE
1986 Topps Football Cello X-Out Unopened Box
Often, they just drew a line across the box as well.
1987 Topps Football X-Out Unopened Box
The ‘X-Out’ marking on some years were worse than others. I think that 1984 was the worst as they seemed to very, very generously deface the lids of their boxes that year. Another problem with the ‘X-Out’ is that they usually put the boxes back into the cases without letting the marking dry completely. So, when the boxes are removed from the cases today it results in many of the lids being torn off.
BBCE
The following picture of a 1984 Topps Football Box shows a piece of another box stuck to the top.
1984 Topps Football X-Out Unopened Box
Topps also marked the outside of those cases with “Final Sale” stamp.
You can see “FINAL SALE NOT TO BE RETURNED” stamped on this 1983 Topps Baseball Unopened Rack Pack Case.
1983 Topps Baseball Case FINAL SALE
A few former card shop owners have shared that they received some cases marked “final sale” in which none of the boxes were “X-Outs.” It’s possible that Topps had certain products that could only be returned for a limited amount of time and, therefore, didn’t require marking. Or maybe other products could only be returned by the case. One dealer noted that rack pack boxes that they received were never marked.
Additionally, there are cases from before 1981 that are marked “Final Sale,” indicating that exchange programs started earlier. For example, the 1979 Topps case below shows “Final Sale,” but we haven’t seen any boxes from this era with an “X-Out” on it. I’m assuming Topps noticed some shady behavior and started marking the boxes in 1981.
1979 Topps Baseball Case FINAL SALE
Non-sports cards followed the same pattern, as you can see on the Garbage Pail Kid box which has a black line across it, and the 1978 Topps Jaws 2 Case marked “Final Sale.”
Garbage Pail Kids X-Out Box
1978 Topps Jaws 2 Case FINAL SALE
If you have any other information or comments about “X-Out” boxes or “Final Sale” cases – be sure to share them in the comments section below.
Christie’s offered this incredible Junge’s Bread For Energy advertising poster in their October 1993 Sports Memorabilia catalog auction. These are some of the toughest cards to find in the hobby.
Christie’s described the Bread For Energy Label Advertising Poster as follows:
The scarcest of all sports bread end label sets is the 48 label “Bread For Energy” set. It includes 16 Movie Stars, 16 Western Stars and 16 Sports Stars four each of boxing, basketball, wrestling, and football. This rare advertisement for Jungle Bread contains an uncut sheet of 16 labels in color including the following sports subjects, Johnny Lujack, Buddy Young, Kid Gailan, Joe Fulks, Gene Stanlee and the very rare Rocky Marciano. In excellent to mint condition.
The expected price was $1,800-2,200.
Unfortunately, there isn’t much information available about the set. While Christie’s said the set has 48 labels, Beckett’s online directory says the set has 44 cards, while the seller of the following sheet on eBay says 42. And if this is the D290-12 set, my American Card Catalog says there are 64 cards.
That seller on eBay wrote,
This 14 inch by 22 inch magnificent piece of sports and movie nostalgia is the only known, uncut bread-end label sheet and advertising poster for the 1950-51 D290-12 “Bread For Energy” series of 42 different multi-sport and Hollywood celebrities. The labels were distributed on the ends of loafs of various brands of breads & bakeries. Junge’s Bread was not previously known as a D290-12 bread label bakery brand and this advertising poster is as fresh and beautiful as the day it was printed and prepared in 1950.
A 16-card, 11 inch by 11 inch, uncut sheet of 16 different bread labels, which were originally exclusively identified with Fischer’s bread, have been affixed to a cardboard poster. These Junge’s Bread, “Bread for Energy labels” are brand new except for a slight crease that runs from Bing Crosby’s head to the bottom of the William Bendix label. The Kid Gavilan, Edgar Bergan, Joe Fulks are all affected. The sheet contains 3 of the 5 keys to the set including Johnny Lujack, Joe Fulks, and most importantly, a rookie issue of Rocky Marciano.
Curiously, they wrote that their poster, with an asking price of $10k, is the only known piece, when there is another one on eBay with an asking price of $6k, and none of the three, compared to Christie’s, look the same.
Also, Leland’s has sold three of these Junge’s Bread-style posters. The first two have the same look as the previous three I’ve shared; the first sold for $1,364 in December 2020, and the second sold for $1,240 in February 2021 (this appears to be the $10k eBay one).
However, Lelands also sold this Junge’s Bread for Energy poster for $1,364 in April 2021. Notice that it has a few different cards on it!
If you want to see more examples of the cards, BMW Sports Cards has a nice directory. If you know anything else about them, please get in touch with me.
From 1921 to the 1970s, Exhibit Supply Co. (ESCO) of Chicago, Illinois, released over 14,000 different cards. While there are numerous articles I could write about “Exhibits” here on the blog, covering various aspects of the company’s history, including the postcard-like design style, distribution and machines, and key sets/cards, there’s a select group of cards that are particularly scarce, about which very little is known in a topic I’m genuinely passionate about, Checklist cards!
Before I delve into Exhibit’s wrestling, football, baseball, and boxing checklist cards, I want to address a few important points.
Firstly, I want to clarify that I’m not an exhibit expert. These cards have a poorly documented history that’s challenging to unravel, and there are some hot debates about some of them in the hobby. However, my interest in learning more about them has been growing over the years. The topic of checklists, in particular, has been on my mind for some time. I decided to take the plunge and share my thoughts, hoping that fellow collectors might reach out to me and engage in conversations or provide additional insights. So, please don’t hesitate to contact me if you notice any errors or have more information to share.
Next, kudos to Adam Warshaw and his book, Exhibit and Related Sports Arcade Cards. I’ll reference it throughout this post; it’s an awesome resource.
Exhibit and Related Sports Arcade Cards – By Adam S. Warshaw
Lastly, before diving into the cards, you should be aware of one critical Arcade/Exhibit-related topic – slicks. Slicks are paper versions of the cards produced on “slick” glossy paper. They served as exact replicas of the typically thick postcard-like cards and were designed to be affixed to headers on the front of exhibit vending/arcade machines. Adam pointed out that ESCO likely produced them because paper is more cost-effective and lighter than cardboard. When manufacturing and mailing tens of thousands of these each year, every penny saved matters.
To illustrate, here’s an example of a vending machine with a header sign with a bunch of slicks pasted on it, advertising “Baseball Stars” and “Football Stars.”
Exhibits Vending Machine With Baseball and Football Stars Header
This is a different sign, but notice the glue on the back of each one.
Exhibits Baseball Stars and Football Stars Header/Slicks
Exhibit Wrestling Checklist Card
The following Exhibits “Wrestlers” checklist card was sold in a lot of 34 items by Robert Edward Auctions in April 2023 for $1320. REA described the checklist as “extremely rare” and having a typed address on reverse, but otherwise in fair condition. I’ve also read that the postcard is not on standard Exhibit card stock.
Exhibit Wrestling Checklist Card – Front
Exhibit Wrestling Checklist Card – Reverse
A scan of the same card appears in Warshaw’s book (with a photo of a boxing and baseball checklist). He wrote that the checklist cards from the 1950s are “actually salesman samples, as proven by the example addressed to arcade owners.” However, he only shows the back of the wrestling card, which has sale information, so I think we can call, at least this known example, a salesman sample checklist card.
I also think there may be another pair of 1955-59 Exhibit Supply Company Wrestler series advertising checklists featuring Lou Thesz. One has Don Eagle on the list, and the other does not. Both were supplied with each order of 1000 cards and only exist without cardboard backing and have blank backs.
Exhibit Boxing Checklist Card
Here’s a scan of the Exhibit Prize Fighters checklist card from Warshaw’s book.
Exhibit Boxing Checklist Card – Example 1
And here’s another I found on Google Images. I think they’re the exact same item, given some of the wrinkles.
Exhibit Boxing Checklist Card – Example 2
Because I haven’t seen a scan of either back, I’m unsure if they’re slicks or a salesman sample item/postcards. Also, Warshaw explains that even though Jake LaMotta and Rocky Marciano are both listed on the card, they were part of different sets/series, with La Motta being part of the Salutations series from the ’40s while the Marciano card came out years later in another series. I’ve also seen folks date the boxing checklist card to 1950 (just like the wrestling card).
Exhibit Football Checklist Cards
Things start to get even more complicated when it comes to Exhibit Football checklist cards.
First, there’s definitely a slick version. Sports Collectors Digest shared a pair of machines with headers, one of which features both a Joe DiMaggio baseball and Chuck Bednarik football checklist.
Arcade Machines – Baseball and Football Stars Checklist Slicks
Next, Robert Edward Auctions sold a lot of Exhibit football cards in April 2015 for $2700; its title was 1948-1952 W468 Football Exhibits Complete Set (59) Plus Rare Checklist. They describe the checklist as “paper thin” and in fair condition due to “adhesive on reverse.” So, I think it’s safe to call it a slick.
W468 Football Exhibits Plus Rare Checklist
REA also wrote that the football cards were released between 1948 and 1952, black-and-white between 1948 and 1951, and sepia-toned in 1952. However, Warshaw thinks the cards may have been issued on an ongoing basis from 1948-1955, with certain cards being replaced over time. He also shares that the checklist card is interesting because it specifies which cards were made in the particular year of its creation (cards were issued in 32 card series). He writes that the checklist card is undated and wasn’t mailed, so we can’t conclusively say it’s a 1950 card.
Tuff Stuff says the cards were released in three groups of 32 in 1948, 1950, and 1951, with the 1951 series being the easiest to find. They also wrote that the checklist was produced in 1950 in black-and-white and green – they also mentioned a nine-card ad display with the Bendarik checklist. Beckett online also says the checklist was produced in 1950 in both black-and-white and green and lists 32 players from the 1950 set on the front.
Speaking of, I pulled this black-and-white exhibits football checklist from TCDB. It could be a black-and-white photo of a green/sepia-tone card, but the back shows glue, implying a slick.
Exhibit Football Black-and-White Checklist Slick
Last, I ran across this photo in Google Images. I can’t quite tell if it’s thick like a normal W468 card, but this thread on net54 implies there’s a Bednarik checklist that’s not a slick.
Exhibit Football Checklist Card
SGC shows three 1948-52 Exhibits (W468) checklist cards with Chuck Bendarik pictured in its Pop Report.
Exhibit Baseball Checklist Cards
I know of two 1947-66 Exhibits baseball checklist card variations. One has ‘Yogi Berra Listed First,’ and one has Al Evans listed first.
Here’s the SGC-graded example of the one with Yogi Berra listed first.
1947-66 Exhibits Checklist Yogi Berra Listed First
The SGC Pop Report also lists two cards with the description ‘Joe DiMaggio Pictured,’ including the following example – but note that it has Al Evans listed first. I’m unsure if the other SGC-graded example is the same as this one – but if you look above, the Yogi Berra Listed First card also features Joe DiMaggio.
1947-66 Exhibits Checklist Joe DiMaggio Pictured – Al Evans Listed First
Let’s discuss the ‘Yogi Berra Listed First’ copy. It’s a slick, given the tape residue on the back of the card. Robert Edward Auctions sold the pictured SGC-A card in August 2022 for $840, and I regret not bidding more for it! They noted that it was the first of its kind that they had seen but were aware of the existence of others (I presume they are referring to the variation with Al Evans listed first). REA mentioned the glue residue showing on the blank back. By the way, that Sports Collectors Digest arcade find I referred to earlier, with the baseball and football checklist, the baseball one is a ‘Yogi Berra Listed First’ slick.
The SGC graded Exhibits baseball checklist I shared, with Al Evans listed first, was sold by Heritage Auctions in a lot of 182 Exhibits for $1135.25 in May 2012. Here are a few other cards from that lot.
Heritage Auctions Exhibit Lot With Checklist Card
Heritage explained that they were calling them 1940s to 1960s Exhibits, but they may be something more unique. Given the previously unknown checklist, they thought their origin could be Canadian, and a few of the Salutation series subjects included in the lot suggested a unique circulation apart from the massive distribution in the United States.
In a 2013 auction for 42 and a 2015 auction for 44 more similar Exhibit baseball cards, Heritage wrote, “NOTE: The primary origin of these cards appears to be Canada and one find even yielded a checklist card. The print quality of these cards matches that of the accepted Canadian color tinted baseball exhibit cards. Third party graders still do not accept these and simply write them off as reprints. Please take this into consideration when bidding.”
There was a 64-card Canadian Exhibit baseball set (two 32-card sets), often referenced to 1953, but its checklist doesn’t match the checklist card. The Canadian Exhibit baseball cards are also numbered. PSA writes, “Cards tinted green or red number from #1-32, while cards #32-64 were printed in blue and reddish-brown. Strictly printed in 1953, the cards possess action or portrait style photographs with the player’s name seemingly hand-printed at the bottom of each with the year’s issuance printed below as “53”. The grey stock cards are numbered in the upper right corner.”
Also, the Al Evans checklist lists the New York Yankees and Philadelphia Phillies who played in the 1950 World Series, but the Phillies are crossed off, and New York Giants are written in, who the Yankees played in the 1951 World Series.
Warshaw dedicates some time to the team cards in his book. He wrote that from 1949 to 1957, except for 1953, ESCO issued a team card for each pennant winner. Noting that a card that says “1955 World Champions” wasn’t made for the 1955 print run. It had to be made after the September/October 1955 World Series.
Therefore, Warshaw references the Al Evans listed first checklist card as one for the 1951 print run (Yankees vs. Phillies in the 1950 World Series).
Wrap-Up and Further Reading
Again, if you have any more information or photos of these cards, please get in touch with me via e-mail, in the comments, or on Twitter. And if you’re into Exhibits, be sure to pick up a copy of Warshaw’s book Exhibit And Related Sports Arcade Cards. I’m super excited to learn more about this hobby niche and suspect there is still a lot to uncover about Exhibits.
Happy collecting!
PS, I think there’s a chance the Exhibit Supply Co could have printed the baseball and football slicks for a 1955 revised release as wrestlers, prize fighters, baseball stars, and football stars all appear together on the following catalog page with a note to “Combine In One Machine” (and there is that arcade machine with both the baseball and football checklist card slicks on it).
It’s incredible how many card collectors catalogs there were in the early 90s.
If you’re a hobby library collector, what’s funny is that despite massive distributions at the time, most of these don’t come up for sale very often (but they’re not much more expensive than a few dollars when they do). I hadn’t even heard of a few of these.
Also, things aren’t that different today. If we were to try to categorize the number of marketplaces that exist today, it would be pretty huge, too. Just think how many Facebook groups there are for sales alone.
PS, this ad is a scan from the April 1992 edition of Allan Kaye’s Sports Cards News & Price Guides.
Back in 2011, at the National Sports Collectors Convention in Chicago, IL, Topps held an auction exclusively for VIP ticket holders on Wednesday, August 3, at 2:30 PM. It featured “10 magnificent TOPPS items direct from the Vault!” In this article, I’ll share the paragraphs describing the lots exactly as Topps advertised them on the National’s website leading into the show.
1957-58 Topps Basketball Card Bill Russell Cancelled Check
1957-58 Topps Basketball Card Bill Russell Cancelled Check – Topps Vault Auction
Direct from Topps’ legendary vault comes Hall of Famer Bill Russell’s very first Topps basketball card canceled paycheck. Mr. Russell was the key card in the celebrated 1957-1958 Topps basketball card set. The 1957-58 Topps basketball card set was the first basketball card set issued by Topps and is the most important of the three major basketball sets issued prior to 1969 (the other two are Bowman’s 1948 set and Fleer’s 1961 set). The reverse is endorsed by Mr. Russell in bold black ink. Overall condition is very-good-plus. PSA/DNA Certified Authentic. A Topps Vault certificate of authenticity accompanies this one-of-a-kind piece of Topps hoops history.
1968 Topps Final Baseball Card Color Transparency – 1968 Nolan Ryan Rookie Card
1968 Topps Final Baseball Card Color Transparency – Topps Vault Auction
For each baseball card created by Topps, there exists one color transparency used as the original artwork from which the proof sheets were made. Offered here is a unique opportunity to own the only artwork used to create the 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan Rookie Card. This original color transparency was trimmed down in the production process in order to fit into the duel-player Topps Rookie Card design. Nolan Ryan has long been regarded as one of the most popular and sought after names in the hobby which makes this transparency one of the most unique items a card collector could possess. Transparency measures approx. 1 1/4″ X 1 1/2″ in size and is in its original state. The original hand-inscribed Topps file envelope is included. Lot is accompanied by a Topps Vault certificate of authenticity.
The bidding on this item was reported as fierce and ended at $3500. The Ryan Transparency had been listed for sale on eBay for a long time, apparently by the original buyer, for $89,995. Here are a few more items they have shared for the item.
1968 Topps Final Baseball Card Color Transparency – eBay Front
1968 Topps Final Baseball Card Color Transparency – eBay Reverse
1968 Topps Final Baseball Card Color Transparency – eBay COA
1968 Topps Final Baseball Card Color Transparency – eBay Evenlope Side 1
1968 Topps Final Baseball Card Color Transparency – eBay Evenlope Side 2
1977 Topps Uncut Proof Sheet with Rare Reggie Jackson Orioles Error Card
Every once in a while, a rather significant Topps error card will find its way to auction. This is one of those times. This incredible uncut proof sheet contains several error cards, most noteworthy, the 1977 Topps Reggie Jackson Orioles card. Printed early in the production process, this proof sheet contains Mr. October donning his 1976 Baltimore Orioles uniform. In subsequent proof printings, Mr. Jackson was outfitted in Yankees pinstripes. Barely a handful of these Reggie error cards has ever surfaced making it one of the most important Topps boo-boos in history. Other slips include Don Baylor in an A’s uniform, Dave Duncan (Orioles), Steve Stone (Cubs), Wayne Garland (Orioles), Gene Tenace (A’s), Pat Kelly (White Sox), Gary Matthews (Giants) and Rollie Fingers (A’s). Proof sheets are made by the engraver, usually from the final set of separations. Proofs show what the product will look like when it is printed. Topps staffers use them to check color and registration. Proofreaders will also check them for content. This extraordinary find is professionally matted and framed and is accompanied by a Topps Vault certificate of authenticity.
More recently, the Oriole’s Jackson cards have sold for almost $60k, so while the $10k price for this sheet was considered a lot at the time, in retrospect, it was a steal!
1987 Topps/Nestles Baseball Card Set – Mickey Mantle Signed Agreement
1987 Topps/Nestles Baseball Card Set – Mickey Mantle Signed Agreement – Topps Vault Auction
The 33-card 1987 Nestle set features players from the golden era as well as the games modern era. The biggest of these baseball greats were the late Mickey Mantle and Babe Ruth. The 1987 Nestle set was produced in conjunction with Topps and was offered inside specially marked six-packs of select Nestle candy bars. In order to include retired players in the set, Topps entered into an agreement with each individual athlete or the estate. Offered here is the original hand-signed agreement between Topps and Mickey Mantle himself. Original 8 1/2″ X 11″ archival document comes professionally matted and framed and features a bold blue ink signature. Lot is accompanied by a Topps Vault certificate of authenticity.
Here’s an example of a hand-cut Mantle 1987 Nestle set.
1987 Nestle #17 Mickey Mantle
1979-80 Topps Hockey Uncut Proof Sheet – Wayne Gretzky Rookie Card
1979-80 Topps Hockey Uncut Proof Sheet – Topps Vault Auction
Wayne Gretzky is regarded as the greatest hockey player ever and his 1979-1980 Topps Rookie Card is one of the pre-eminent trading cards ever printed. Featured here is a blank back production sheet containing the “Great One’s” very first bubble gum card. Original proof sheet is professionally matted and framed (26″ X 32-1/2″) and overall is in near-mint condition. Proof sheets are made by the engraver, usually from the final set of separations. Proofs show what the product will look like when it is printed. Topps staffers use them to check color and registration. Proofreaders will also check them for content. Lot is accompanied by a Topps Vault certificate of authenticity.
While not a proof sheet, a 1979 Topps Hockey sheet with the Gretzky rookie card was listed on eBay for ~$5k a year or two ago.
1979 Topps Hockey Uncut Sheet
1980 Topps/Pepsi Unissued Two-sided Final Uncut Sheet
The unique 1980 Topps-produced Pepsi baseball card set features many of the era”s greatest diamond stars. In fact, half of the ballplayers incorporated into this 22-card set are enshrined in the hallowed halls of Cooperstown. This prized Topps relic comes professionally matted and framed (12 3/4″ X 33″) and is in tip-top condition. The reverse side of the sheet is also viewable. Some of the more notable subjects include; Rod Carew, Robin Yount, Paul Molitor, Reggie Jackson, George Brett, Mike Schmidt, Jim Palmer, Dave Winfield and Steve Carlton. This is the first and only time this seldom-seen and un-catalogued Topps baseball product will be offered in uncut sheet form. Lot is accompanied by a Topps Vault certificate of authenticity.
1968 Topps Uncut Proof Sheet Nolan Ryan Rookie Card
Rare 1968 Topps uncut 44-card uncut blank-back proof sheet. Direct from the Topps Vault archives, this blank back proof sheet measures 21″ X 28″ and overall, is in excellent-plus condition. What makes this cherished Topps production item so special is that it is not crafted from the usual cardboard stock but rather a vinyl-like material. Proof sheets are made by the engraver, usually from the final set of separations. Proofs show what the product will look like when it is printed. Topps staffers use them to check color and registration. Proofreaders will also check them for content. The principal card featured on this highly sought-after piece is the Nolan Ryan Rookie Card. Also included are the 1968 Topps cards of Hank Aaron, Tony Perez, Joe Morgan and the late Elston Howard among others. For instant viewing pleasure, this lot is professionally matted and framed. A Topps Vault certificate of authenticity is included. *This lot will be framed.”
Memory Lane Inc. sold a sheet matching this description in their Spring 2013 auction for $1583. REA has also sold blank-backed vinyl-like sheets but unframed in a few past auctions; one sold for $1778 in the fall of 2013, and another sold for $2160 in the spring of 2017.
Framed 1968 Topps Uncut Proof Sheet
1957 Topps Basketball Card Set – Bill Russell Signed Agreement
1957 Topps Basketball Card Set – Bill Russell Signed Agreement – Topps Vault Auction
Direct from Topps’ legendary vault, this auction lot features Bill Russell’s Rookie basketball card contract. The 1957-1958 Topps basketball card set was the very first basketball card set issued by Topps and remains today the greatest of all Topps basketball card sets. Original hand-signed document measures 8 1/2″ X 11″ in size and overall, is in near-excellent condition. Contract is signed and dated by Mr. Russell as well as Topps’ Sy Berger. This extraordinary slice of Topps history is professionally matted and framed for your immediate viewing pleasure. A Topps Vault certificate of authenticity accompanies this Topps archival relic.
1974 Topps Test Issue The Six Million Dollar Man Unopened Box
1974 Topps Test Issue The Six Million Dollar Man Unopened Box – Topps Vault Auction
1974 Topps “The Six Million Dollar Man” Full 36-Count Wax Pack Box. This seldom-seen Test Issue wax pack full box originates directly from the Topps Vault archives. The plain white Test box contains 36 firmly sealed packs. Each pack contains seven cards and a slab of bubble gum. The original plain white box is in top-flight condition. Topps failed to get the U.S. rights to this 1970’s pop culture television series. After its limited test run, a small quantity of the remaining Test boxes was sent to the UK for distribution. This rare pack box was unearthed during a recent visit to the Topps warehouse and now becomes one of only a handful of Topps Six Million Dollar Man full wax pack boxes ever offered for sale. A rare find indeed! A certificate of authenticity accompanies this spectacular auction lot.
I saw a few GAI-graded packs sell for a little over $200 a few years ago, and a few PSA-graded packs have been listed for sale on eBay over the years. One of them had the words “Topps Vault Collection” written on the flip and was listed for $1429.
1974 Topps The Six Million Dollar Man PSA Pack
1985 Topps Garbage Pail Kids Series One Uncut Sheet
With its madcap gross-out humor, Topps Garbage Pail Kids stickers took the country by storm in 1985. Kids were plastering the hip gross stickers everywhere. Seldom offered, this stunning 132-sticker full sheet measures a stout 28 1/2″ X 43″ and overall, is in excellent-plus-plus condition. Sheet shows only the usual wear associated with uncut sticker-stock sheets of this size including very-very-very mild surface and edge wear. This colossal collectible is suitable for framing and much, much more! Each of the 132 finished stickers is scored. Sheet contains two complete “B” Series’ and one complete “A” series sticker sets, plus a few doubles. Sheet code is 4-494-05-01-5. A Topps Vault certificate of authenticity accompanies this fabulous pop-culture collectible.
The only item I don’t have an original photo of is this Garbage Pail Kids sheet. However, a sheet with the same serial number was listed on eBay for $5400 a while ago.
Garbage Pail Kids Series One Uncut Sheet
Also, the Six Million Dollar Man box and the Garage Pail Kids Uncut Sheet were announced as the final two auction items a few weeks after the first eight items were.
While this auction didn’t have the breadth of Guernsey’s Topps Auction from 1989, its depth was incredible. Happy collecting!
Do you know how folks found cards for their collections in the early 80s? They took out ads in hobby periodicals like John Spalding did in this request for 1935 to 1941 Wheaties Panels in the July 1983 issue of Trader Speaks.
Spalding was also looking to hear from Wheaties collectors for a few research projects and was willing to refund postage costs for info. He passed away in 2012 but was a prominent hobby contributor as a writer, researcher, and collector.
By the way, the panel included in the ad is from 1936.
Here’s an extremely scarce wrapper from an extremely scarce Canadian pre-war set: the 1924 Willard’s Chocolates V122 Sports Champions.
Ron Oser Entperises offered the 4” x 4” wrapper with a reserve of $100 in their March 1998 catalog. The lot’s description mentioned a 2” tear along one seam.
The V122 set has 56 cards, including three baseball players: Babe Ruth, Eddie Collins, and Ty Cobb. The baseball cards are super pricey; REA sold a PSA 5.5 Babe Ruth for $25,200 in September 2022.
In October 2009, Heritage Auctions sold this wrapper with four hockey cards from the set for $836.50.
They wrote, “Willards Chocolates was a Toronto based firm that produced a few sports theme sets in the mid-1920’s. In 1924 the company produced a 56-card set showcasing athletes from various sports including, baseball, boxing, track and field and hockey. This presentation offers all four hockey subjects: #’s 43 Watson, 45 Collett, 47 Smith and 52 Munro. All four present nicely but were once housed in an album and have paper/glue residue affecting the top portion of the back of each card, Collett has creases. Also offered is a very rare two-color wrapper adorned with a somewhat crude drawing of a runner while promoting “A Picture in Every Bar” of “Willard’s ‘Sports’ Nut Bar.” The rarity of the wrapper explained by the chance to exchange 100 wrappers for “imported chain” for Girls and a “watch chain” for boys. The wrapper has fold lines as issued, plus area of paper damage along the left and right edges, the result of being opened. Despite condition flaws, the wrapper presents at the VG/EX level.”
