Kellogg's vs Topps

[toppcat]

I have been doing a lot of research in old issues of The Trader Speaks (currently looking at 1973 issues) and one thing that really jumps out at me is how popular the Kellogg's sets were compared to Topps issues of the same vintage. 1971 Kellogg's was going for as much as $65 where 71 Topps could be had for $15. In 1972 it's about $25 vs $13.

Also of note, May 1973 issue mentions Xograph (who also made Topps 3D in 1968) lost their contract to Visual Panographics, resulting in no 3D issue that year.

[moeson]

The 1970 set was available everywhere for around $5 back then. The overstock was available from toy stores and certain dealers. In 1971 collectors faced having to empty cereal boxes at a rapid pace to complete the Kelloggs set. Then in 1972 we initially assumed that the cards would be available only in boxes. Dealers had complete sets by Summer, so the direct set offer must have kicked in then. I remember opening and tossing a lot of bad cereals earlier that year.

[savedfrommyspokes]

Could the higher prices for Kellogg's sets have more to due to with a significantly lower supply than Topps sets versus actually being more popular(higher demand) than Topps sets at the time?

[cardinalcollector]

The 1971 Kelloggs was a high demand set back then, and the only Kelloggs issue that didn't have a mail-in offer for the complete set. As Howie mentioned, the ONLY way to get them was to buy the cereal that year. I remember buying a complete set from Chicago dealer Bob Solon for $75 that year, that was HUGE money for a 12 year old. I worked 40 hours at $2 an hour as a groundskeeper to pay for that set

[moeson]

It absolutely was a matter of supply. One could buy complete Topps sets from Stan Martucci, Fritsch, Yeko, Card Collectors Company but no over supply of Kelloggs cards leaked to dealers. Perhaps Kelloggs learned a lesson from the prior year.

[moeson]

Randy, I bought 1972 and 1973 sets from Bob Solon. I believe I got a partial refund once the 72 complete set direct offer came out.

[toppcat]

It's not just the pricing or supply, there were numerous articles on the Kellogg's sets in prior issues. I think the novelty of 3D was quite appealing in the early 70's.

As an aside, complete sets of 1973 Topps were being advertised as early as the May issue, so they were available from the beginning of the season.

[cardinalcollector]

Originally Posted by moeson

Randy, I bought 1972 and 1973 sets from Bob Solon. I believe I got a partial refund once the 72 complete set direct offer came out.

Howie, Bob Solon is a great name from the past. I had several dealings with him in the early 1970s. He had all those great oddball complete sets. I dealt with Fritsch and Martucci as well. Those were the days.