One of the more interesting discoveries from my stacks of old auction catalogs is this 1962 Topps Baseball high number proof sheet, not because it’s unique, but because it shows how our understanding of scarcity evolves over time. It appeared in Mastro’s Millennium Fine Sports Auctions catalog in November 1999.
At the time, Mastro described it as an “exceptionally rare” blank-backed proof sheet featuring many of the set’s toughest high numbers, including Willie McCovey, Bob Gibson, the Rookie Parade cards, and other short prints. Bidding opened at $400, and the sheet ultimately sold for $612.
Today we know these sheets aren’t quite as elusive as they once seemed. Several additional 1962 Topps proof sheets have surfaced over the past 25 years through Heritage Auctions and REA.
Interestingly, this appears to be the exact same sheet that Heritage sold for $2,880 in January 2024. The distinctive staining beneath the Kemmerer card matches, although it appears the large margin along the bottom was trimmed.
I’ve also found what appear to be at least two other unique examples on Heritage, along with several more offered by REA over the years. Without having every sheet side-by-side, it’s difficult to know exactly how many survive, but it’s clear that they’re considerably more available than collectors believed back in 1999. This next copy has also been listed on eBay recently (July 2026) with an aggressive Buy it Now price of $39,995.00 (Heritage had sold it for $408 in May 2019).
It’s a good reminder of something I say all the time: whenever an item is considered “unique” or “impossibly rare,” I generally assume there are more examples out there than people think.
Happy collecting!
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P.S. Curious if any have surfaced recently? Browse current 1962 Topps proof and uncut sheets on eBay.
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