Can Someone Explain this?
 

Yes, it went cheap because I didn't want to bid it up against the high bidder. Just 1 of 11 graded, pretty tough

Bargain
 

Were you out price trolling again Ted ? :)

just
 

so just that card is rare with gray back or something?

Gray backs were a short run or rare cards that started at card 131 and ran to card 190.

From the reading I have recently done, the front of the card will look "cream" colored as well.
The one you posted went cheap imo, as they usually sell for a lot higher.
http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=128228
http://1952toppsbaseballcards.com/Series&PrintsPage.htm

131-190
 

In a recent auction a near set of the "Canadian" gray backs ( minus one) sold for $10,000. Individually they have been selling for as much or more than similar condition high number cards in the set. The same phenomena exists in the gray back cards cards 1-50 in the 54 set

Similar but different, ALR. What is the story with the "Black Star" cards I see once in a while?

Seen some going for large money so I also assume, like the gray backs, they are rare or a misprint?

Campos
 

The 52 Campos can be found with two red stars on back ( common) or one red star and one black star ( scarce) . It is a recognized variation by SCD, Beckett and PSA. You can find partial black stars. You can also find the card with a missing upper left front border... rarer than black star ( some on eBay now ). I recently saw a 52 autographed black star....coming soon

Thanks, ALR.

So it is only the Campos cards that have the Black stars and missing upper left front border?

I did see those on E-Bay as well.

Campos
 

The black star always commands a big premium because you need it for almost any master set. The partial black star and missing front border have less formal hobby recognition and are less sought after at this point ( Not on Registry master list)

http://i1267.photobucket.com/albums/...539/img089.jpg

Sorry to keep asking, but is it the Campos cards only that have the black star?

Was thinking about pulling my cards out of the Safety deposit box to have another look at mine but I have no Campos card so I assume there is no point?

Yes, only the Campos


Yes trolling for pricing errors Al!

If you wanted to complete a master set where would you go to find all the variations needed to complete said set?

It would be a huge undertaking for sure, especially considering all these variations!

"In total, there are 145 total variations, or more than 25% of the standard 407-card set. As a result, you could write an entire book on the subject. Not even the venerable Mickey Mantle card escaped the gremlins of the Topps printing presses. His card variation includes the following identifiers: darker skin tone, a white printing dot alongside the left border, no black border around the Yankees logo, and the last "E" in his signature ends with the line pointing down."

Daps
 

The Mantle, Thompson and J Robinson, although high # cards, were double printed. Double printed cards often have minor differences such as cropping. The Mantle card has the front differences you mention but a key difference in those 3 cards is the fact that the stitching in the baseballs on the back run left on one version and right on the other. The front differences on the Mantle in all cases correspond with the stitching differences.

Great info, ALR. I wasn't aware of that. (my mentioned info was a copy and paste from PSA)

These are the only 2 scans I have of the backs of cards but I will be sure to check some of my other cards to see how many vary.

Thanks for the info. :)

That's insane! I'm doing a braves base topps set. Thinking about the possibility of doing it as a master set. I just have no idea where I could go to see if it's realistic.