Any fans of Topps Vault items?

[6-4-3memorabilia]

Wanted to get a few opinions on Topps Vault items. Looks like some of the items are pretty interesting while others not so much. I picked this up to go along with my 1965 Topps set (mostly because it says Mickey Mantle) was only $25 but does anyone know what it was used for? on the COA it mentions it being art, I don't think its a printing plate. It has that old 1960's tape that turned yellow on it. Maybe it was used as a concept for Topps before they made the cards? What do you guys think it was used for? Thanks- Anthony

[joeadcock]

Back in 2003-2004 when I got into Ebay, found Topps Vault, they had opened up to a lot of items. Both non sport and sport, some incredible stuff then. I bought several of these like yours and many others.

These were usually the art used for the back of the corresponding player's card, in this case Pedro Gonzalez cards(year?). You would have to match it to the back of it's corresponding card.

This one was probably bought from Topps Vault few years ago, as the COA looks different for more recently bought ones.

I sent most of what I had to an auction house few years back and they sold it as one lot.

[6-4-3memorabilia]

Back in 2003-2004 when I got into Ebay, found Topps Vault, they had opened up to a lot of items. Both non sport and sport, some incredible stuff then. I bought several of these like yours and many others.

These were usually the art used for the back of the corresponding player's card, in this case Pedro Gonzalez cards(year?). You would have to match it to the back of it's corresponding card.

This one was probably bought from Topps Vault few years ago, as the COA looks different for more recently bought ones.

I sent most of what I had to an auction house few years back and they sold it as one lot.

Its from 1965, funny though I don't have the Gonzalez card yet for my set.

[I Only Smoke 4 the Cards]

Wanted to get a few opinions on Topps Vault items. Looks like some of the items are pretty interesting while others not so much. I picked this up to go along with my 1965 Topps set (mostly because it says Mickey Mantle) was only $25 but does anyone know what it was used for? on the COA it mentions it being art, I don't think its a printing plate. It has that old 1960's tape that turned yellow on it. Maybe it was used as a concept for Topps before they made the cards? What do you guys think it was used for? Thanks- Anthony


It looks like inked comic book art. For comic books of the era the art process worked like this.

(1) penciled draws a picture
(2) inker traces the image and adds detail
(3) letterer adds lettering (usually glued on the inked page)
(4) image is copied to a transparency and is painted
(5) painted image is copied for production

Hope this helps.

Alex

[6-4-3memorabilia]

It looks like inked comic book art. For comic books of the era the art process worked like this.

(1) penciled draws a picture
(2) inker traces the image and adds detail
(3) letterer adds lettering (usually glued on the inked page)
(4) image is copied to a transparency and is painted
(5) painted image is copied for production

Hope this helps.

Alex

Thanks for the info Alex, this kind of had me puzzled as well as the few collectors I showed it to at my local card show

[drcy]

I had some items from their original 1989 Guersey Archive action. Proofs, art, etc for 1960s-70s baseball and football cards. Nothing of great value, but I hought they were neat. I've always liked that sort of stuff The oddest one was a mylar (transparent plastic) progression proof for a 1975 card. It had different sheets, one for one color and when you put them one on top of the other you got the whole card. Back in the 1989, they rubber stamped Topps archive on the back of the items.

I agree that yours looks like the pen and ink art for the back of a card. 'Original art' should refer to something hand drawn and thats what the backs of cards looked like, with the cartoon. I had a couple of those for football cards from the Guernsey auction.

[horzverti]

Wanted to get a few opinions on Topps Vault items. Looks like some of the items are pretty interesting while others not so much. I picked this up to go along with my 1965 Topps set (mostly because it says Mickey Mantle) was only $25 but does anyone know what it was used for? on the COA it mentions it being art, I don't think its a printing plate. It has that old 1960's tape that turned yellow on it. Maybe it was used as a concept for Topps before they made the cards? What do you guys think it was used for? Thanks- Anthony

It looks like you have the version of original art used for the 1965 Mantle card. It is not an exact match, but is very similar to the back of the card. I really like that Topps has been selling this cool stuff. I have a few original file copies of actual final product cards which were held in binders at Topps since they were produced. You occasionally see other file copies and similar items for sale on eBay...being resold well after their initial purchase directly from The Topps Vault. I would think that these highly collectible items are either already sitting in great collections or still held at Topps because they have not yet been offered for sale. Your Mantle piece is most likely a one of one and it has a much higher value than your $25 purchase price. There are many copies of the 65 Mantle card out there, but probably only one of your piece.
By the way, the card forum guys would appreciate this thread.

[thecatspajamas]

I've been digging the original transparencies and negatives for the photos that they have been doling out a rate of 20-30 per day over the last few years on eBay. Most of the ones that I have seen have been for mid-60's to early 2000's, and I've just been looking at the baseball photos. Everything from the actual shot used for the player's card to "same session" shots that were not selected for the final design to player/team combinations that never appeared on a card. Truly a visual cornucopia!

I've recently begun saving the images for future reference (can't afford to buy all the originals), but I'm sure that many passed through previous auctions from further back than eBay's completed listings show. Wish I had been doing this all along :(

[Mark70Z]

This is the original artwork for the back of the '65 Topps Pedro Gonzalez card #97. Now, what I don't know is why it has Mickey Mantle below. I don't believe that is from the Mantle card; maybe the drawing is supposed to look like Mantle?

Oh, and I'm a fan of the Vault items. Like some have said when thetoppsvault first started had some "really" nice items, but now it's very sporadic in anything really good (at least in my view). Wish I would of known about the 1989 Guersey Archive action at the time; had some awesome items!

[drcy]

It may have been a practice 'Mickey Mantle' they didn't use.

"Rare unissued text." A burgeoning market.

I assume the sketches and texts were done on larger sheets and Topps cut them down, either during production of the cards or for public sale. Commercial artists rarely do their work on card-sized sheets of paper, thought cutting and pasting was a normal part of production and original artworks. And I've seen larger sheets with multiple baseball card cartoons. Though the single cartoon such as this is the way you usually see them on the market.

The single card color progression proofs were cut down after the fact for public sale.

[joeadcock]

Anthony

REA Auctions of 2011, lot 1728, Topps Vault items. In description, you see one was similar to yours at least with back art of Topps Card

http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/auction/2011/1728.html

[thisisradioclash]

I've been digging the original transparencies and negatives for the photos that they have been doling out a rate of 20-30 per day over the last few years on eBay. Most of the ones that I have seen have been for mid-60's to early 2000's, and I've just been looking at the baseball photos. Everything from the actual shot used for the player's card to "same session" shots that were not selected for the final design to player/team combinations that never appeared on a card. Truly a visual cornucopia!

I've recently begun saving the images for future reference (can't afford to buy all the originals), but I'm sure that many passed through previous auctions from further back than eBay's completed listings show. Wish I had been doing this all along :(

I also think the transparencies/negatives are pretty cool to have and look at. I've got a handful of these of Dick Groat from the Topps Vault. I also bought a piece of original art from the Topps Vault used in a 2010 Topps National Chicle card of Ryan Zimmerman.

[joeadcock]

Pulled out what I had remaining from my Topps Vault stuff got in 2003-2004. Couple of examples:art used on back of Topps Football card for Lee Roy Selmon of the Tampa Bay Bucs.

Proofs for 1962 Baseball stamps JOE ADCOCK.

[6-4-3memorabilia]

I saw on ebay there is a seller names "Toppsvault" that sells all this stuff. A lot of player contracts too that the players had with Topps. Pretty reasonable prices too

[autograf]

That's actually Topps.........

[laughlinfan]

Somehow missed this thread - life gets in the way of a good time, sometimes!

As the posts above indicate, this is Topps reverse art for the 1965 baseball set. Seems these small pieces were almost always done in a big sheet with multiple card backs, and as was mentioned, they are quite often cut down (by Topps or someone who got a full sheet) to small groups or individuals. I think the resale value is much higher in individual pieces, since team and player collectors will pay more individually for the art pieces they are interested in.

There was a recent thread on these here:

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=176503

I did see this one on the Bay a while back, and was interested at first, but then was a little sad to see that the Mantle artwork was not used on his card from that year. Still a really cool piece, and 1 of 1!

[Jay Wolt]

I won a near set of the '79 Topps comics original art from Lelands
Each piece was matted w/ the original art & regular comic & framed
and originated from the Guernsey Topps auction

http://www.qualitycards.com/pictures/topps79comics.jpg

[Scott Garner]

I won a near set of the '79 Topps comics original art from Lelands
Each piece was matted w/ the original art & regular comic & framed
and originated from the Guernsey Topps auction

http://www.qualitycards.com/pictures/topps79comics.jpg

Hey Jay,
That's terrific! Did you win the original art for the Nolan Ryan comic as well?
Just curious.... If yes, will you please post it?
Thanks!

[joeadcock]

Jay

That is really cool stuff. Congrats on that auction win.

[Jay Wolt]

Scott, I'm not sure Ryan was included, as maybe there were 2/3rds of the set.
Pete Rose was in there and when I ran a bunch on eBay, some wanted me to sell to them direct instead of having the auctions run their course.
I won the near set perhaps 10-12 years ago and just have one remaining that's in my office, Steve Garvey.

I only have 4 of the scans remaining
The Blue, Garvey, Reggie Smith & Grimsley.

http://www.qualitycards.com/pictures/topps79comicsc.jpg

http://www.qualitycards.com/pictures/topps79comicsb.jpg

The Topps 1989 auction logo is on the back of each piece
http://www.qualitycards.com/pictures/79toppscomicsd.jpg

[timzcardz]

http://www.cal-lector.com/Net54/1965GonzalezBack.jpg

[Jay Wolt]

Here's an original art piece from '69 and the finished product
so you can gauge the size

http://www.qualitycards.com/pictures/linearthaller.jpg

[6-4-3memorabilia]

http://www.cal-lector.com/Net54/1965GonzalezBack.jpg

There it is T!M!!!!, right from my art haha

[Scott Garner]

Scott, I'm not sure Ryan was included, as maybe there were 2/3rds of the set.
Pete Rose was in there and when I ran a bunch on eBay, some wanted me to sell to them direct instead of having the auctions run their course.
I won the near set perhaps 10-12 years ago and just have one remaining that's in my office, Steve Garvey.

I only have 4 of the scans remaining
The Blue, Garvey, Reggie Smith & Grimsley.

http://www.qualitycards.com/pictures/topps79comicsc.jpg

http://www.qualitycards.com/pictures/topps79comicsb.jpg

The Topps 1989 auction logo is on the back of each piece
http://www.qualitycards.com/pictures/79toppscomicsd.jpg

Very nice! Thanks Jay!

[midmo]

I'm into 'em. I think it's cool to see a bit of the creative process. Here's a few of mine. The '64 Koufax is my fav (the image shows up better on the Venezuelan).

[Exhibitman]

Gotta respect the Vault There are some real gems. I picked up match prints of some basketball cards and Ringside contracts.

[Mark70Z]

Justin,

Those are "very" cool. Thanks so much for sharing.

[Exhibitman]

My prize Vault p/u: my cousin's contract for the 1951 Ringside set:

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibitman/images/websize/1951%20Ringside%20Contract%20Miller.jpg

[Jaybird]

My prize Vault p/u: my cousin's contract for the 1951 Ringside set:

http://photos.imageevent.com/exhibitman/images/websize/1951%20Ringside%20Contract%20Miller.jpg

Nice one, Adam. I know how you search for that stuff. COngrats!

[Mark70Z]

My prize Vault p/u: my cousin's contract for the 1951 Ringside set

Exhibitman,

Now that is a very nice/cool contract. Did you acquire this when the Vault first started selling and/or the original auction?

[Mark70Z]

I know this is an older thread, but around National time thetoppsvault starts to list some pretty cool items from the vault. Did anyone see the 1968 Topps Baseball Card FINAL Color Negative? Very cool...

[JoeDfan]

Found these at the National a few years ago, and they appear on the back of the cards below them.
I remember loving the little cartoons when I was a kid, and it was very cool to find the original art.