Wax Box

Unopened Case And Box Sale At The National In 1990

by

Here’s some unopened hobby history from the 11th Annual National Sports Collectors Convention Official Program, including a photo of three 1986 Fleer basketball wax cases!

I shared the pictures on the Facebook Vintage Wax and Packs group, and one collector noted that “$160 seems cheap for a 1986 Donruss box in 1990. Canseco was still $100+ and McGriff and Fielder rookies were $20-25 each.”

And while that’s interesting, another collector highlighted the picture with the early Fleer basketball cases.

The picture isn’t very detailed, but it looks like three 1986 Fleer basketball cases are on the bottom of the stack, with three 1988 Fleer basketball cases sitting on top.

The dealer threw me off a bit at first since, just above the picture, he said they would have a limited amount of 1986-7 Fleer Basketball and 1987-8 Fleer basketball wax boxes available at the show. FYI, the 1987 Fleer basketball print run was smaller than the company’s inaugural print in 1986.

The 1987 Fleer basketball case is white with a basketball outline on it and I don’t see the distinct design in the stacks of cases.

And if you’d like to add this article to your Hobby Library, here’s the 11th NSCC Official Program cover for reference.

24 GAI-Graded 1966 Topps Lost in Space Wax Packs

by

Another incredible Carpet o’ Wax Packs from Mastro’s April 2004 catalog of incredible non-sport material. This time, 24 GAI-Graded 1966 Topps Lost in Space Wax Packs.

The lot came with the wax box, too.

Here’s the lot’s full description:

A 24-Count display box of Topps’ Lost In Space cards is presented, and all of its original, tightly sealed packs have been graded and encapsulated by Global Authentication. Still enjoying a cult following of devoted fans almost 40 years after the show first aired on prime time television, this issue is a perennial favorite among non-sport collectors. The set traced the Space Family Robinson’s exploits, as shown in black-and-white photographic format, in a very desirable 55-card set. A tough issue, with sporadic distribution at the time of release that’s had a pronounced “ripple effect” on the modern hobby’s supply, demand for this set has always been quite strong. As a complete, unopened box, availability of Lost In Space is an almost unheard-of event, and one that almost demands a special news release! This 8″ × 3-3/4″ x 1-7/8″ display box boasts nearly impeccable condition. It presents at the Near Mint level, with a crisp, dark blue color scheme and bright graphics that have successfully avoided the rigors of handling. The superlative array of 5¢ wax packs reveals sharp, untouched character throughout. The packs’ grades include: Graded GAl Gem Mint 9.5: 1 pack; GAI Mint 9: 3 packs; GAI NM-MT+ 8.5: 10 packs; GAI NM-MT 8: 6 packs; GAI NM+ 7.5: 4 packs. This very rare box and its exceptional contents deliver pure Lost In Space nostalgia in its finest, most highly prized form!

The minimum bid was $1,000. Unfortunately, I don’t know what it sold for. However, it looks like Robert Edwards Auctions re-sold the exact same lot in their Fall 2022 auction for $8,700.

That $8,700 price seems like a bit of a steal. Since then, REA has sold a pair of PSA 8-graded individual wax packs for $900 and $840.

1952 Topps Wings 5-Cent Wax Box

by

You’ll occasionally find a 1952 Topps Wings cello pack for sale, but wax is far scarcer. So I was pretty surprised when I ran across this nearly complete 5-cent wax box from an April 2004 auction catalog.

This lot was for a “marvelously well-preserved, two-part Wings display box that once held thirty-six 5-cent packs of the aviation-themed treasures. Thirty of the unopened wax packs are still nestled inside and, with their 8” x 5-5/8”x 1-1/2” lidded counter-sales box, they recreate the vision of a confectioners display from more than a half-century ago.”

The box was described as Near Mint and the packs as Excellent to Mint. The lot also included this flattened wrapper.

As far as I can tell, PSA has only slabbed two 1952 Topps Wings wax packs: the following PSA 7 and another graded 8, which includes a 5-cent designation on the flip. There are 30 cello packs in the Pop Report.

However, The Baseball Card Exchange did offer this “1952 Topps Wings Wax Unopened Box (1 Cent)(120 Packs)” for sale on their website for $16k a while ago, and there are a few GAI-slabbed wax packs, too.

1968 Topps Football 1st Series Unopened Wax Box

by

In the summer of 2006, Mastro had every pack from a 1968 Topps Football 1st Series Wax Box authenticated, graded, and slabbed by GAI.

The packs’ potential stars include Starr, Meredith, Namath, Sayers, Unitas, and Butkus. The grading breakdown was as follows: GAI Gem Mint 9.5: 1 pack; GAI Mint 9: 9 packs; GAI NM-MT+ 8.5: 9 packs; GAI NM-MT 8: 4 packs; GAI NM+ 7.5: 1 pack.

The lot also came with the empty display box, with the Pin-Up insert image of Johnny Unitas on its front panel, but I can’t get a good scan of it from the huge catalog, so here’s an example of a box that REA sold back in 2010.

Today, these boxes and packs are really pricey. REA sold a BBCE-authenticated wax box for $78k in the spring of 2022, and PSA-slabbed packs are selling for ~$1500 these days. 

1967 Topps Baseball 3rd Series Wax Box

by

Legit, who knows?! But Masto offered this 1967 Topps Baseball 3rd-Series 24-Count Wax Box for sale in August 2003 with a minimum bid of $1500.

Hank Aaron and Ernie Banks are in the third series, but interestingly, PSA hasn’t designated any of their 77 graded wax pack examples as being from the third series; 22 are undesignated, and then are the 1st, 4th, 5th, 6th, and 7th series packs. FWIW, all the graded 4th-series packs I ran across offered the “All Star Pin-Up Inside.” REA sold this one for $3960 in their Spring 2024 auction.

I asked some folks on the Facebook Vintage Wax and Packs group how Mastro could say the packs were the third series. They surmised Mastro pressed some packs to see the cards and determine the series. I had been wondering if the insert or wrapper color 1967 prevented that technique. I think Topps only used that specific wax box design (advertising the pin-ups) after the first few series were released; if you have more info about this, please leave a comment. Here’s an example from Heritage Auctions of a box without the pin-up ad.

Masto described the box as being in Ex-Mt condition, with a few of the packs showing minor faults or tears but the majority in near-mint condition.

15 1953 Topps Baseball 5 Cent Packs

by

Mastro offered these fifteen 1953 Topps Unopened Five-Cent Wax Packs in his April 2004 auction, which included the OPC archives.

Global Authentication graded and encapsulated all the packs, and the breakdown was as follows: GAI EX+ 5.5: 7 packs; GAI EX 5: 8 packs.

I don’t know what the lot sold for, but there was a separate lot with just a single pack, and it sold for ~$12k.

And in case you were curious, here’s what a 1953 Topps 24-count 5-cent wax book looks like.