Post war type rarities 1947-73 less than 50 known of all player
 

1961 gold mine bucks 1 known
1959 esslinger beer. 1 known
1961 leader cleaners. 4 known?
1961 Venezuelan tatoos
1961 Harmony milk?
1961 dice

Schumacher service station
1955 topps stamps

1970 Topps Cloth
1960 Leaf Large Portraits?

Bob...56 large portraits in pop
Close but no cigar...lol

58 Hires Root Beer Test Set With Tabs?
64 Meadowgold?
66 Topps Punch Outs?
69 Globe Imports checkerboard back?

It’s tough to get under pop 50 for an entire set. If you expanded it to 100ish, you would probably pick up a few more.

Ah, I misinterpreteded the rules. I thought it was 50 or less of every single player in the set (could be 49 of each player). I stupid. :o

Topps 1971 Rookie Artist Proofs. Example below....not mine

Don’t be so hard on yourself Bob. You will do better in the future

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...370&fit=bounds

I'm not sure these count,
76 Hostess yellow and green

I got them from a friend of a friend, maybe 20-30 cards total. No extras.

https://www.net54baseball.com/pictur...ictureid=10144https://www.net54baseball.com/pictur...ictureid=10145

The 79 Topps mail in cards, not intended to have pro players, just peoples kids. But some did get made. Unknown checklist, and I forget how many you got in the batch, so probably over 50 total.

https://www.net54baseball.com/pictur...pictureid=3637

And I missed the 73 cutoff....Hey, I'm a catcher, I always miss the cutoff.

I have a Hobson. Been trying to find a Remy


Correction...I did apparently pick up a Remy at some point

It’s definitely a crazy low cutoff.

About the only way to get there is to have BOTH a very short checklist AND only a few cards for each player. Obviously not many postwar sets meet those conditions. And when they do, it’s usually because it wasn’t ever released to the public.

A few more
 

1952 Cocoa Cola Playing tips test
1952 Dixie lid premiums
1971 Bazooka numbered panels
1959,1960, 1961 Bazooka complete box
1968 Topps discs

Some of the earliest team picture packs

1946-1947 Sensacion Premiums.

I know several single player collectors who've been waiting for a Musial/Williams to pop up for years.


Also 1959 dads cookies probably meets the requirements.

Are any of these graded by PSA?

What about 1966 and 1967 Pro's Pizza box lids? I looked up 1967 and it said 31 total have been graded but I don't know how accurate that is.

Cliff
I might need some of those hirsch
R u selling?

No on dads cookies...64 cards in a set
So there are a few hundred out there

how about the 1969 Rawlings promo cards? Only 5 known players with only 1 or 2 of each.

Rawlings...thats a good one
Selling?

1947 Bond Bread dual sided perforated cards
 

How about the 1947 Bond Bread dual sided perforated card set. Psa says they have graded 28.

Depending on how you "define" the set. The 1967 Dexter Press Angels Paul Schaal is one. Only a handful known.

https://www.psacard.com/auctionprice...auction/120674

If you include as part of the large 1967 Coke set (which the SCD Guide does not) it doesn't fit the criteria.

if you count it as the only Angel issued in 1967, like the other 12 player team regional sets ( excluding the Cardinals) it fits the criteria.

I hope you folks are right about the Schumacher Service Station cards. I actually have one.

One that doesn't quite make the cut age-wise is the 1982 Korean set issued by Lotta potato chips. I have the Seaver and I've never seen another from the set.

They are hens teeth rare, and that's being generous. Who do you have? I assume it's Munger or Stephens. If it's Schoendienst we need to talk.

1946 Sears postcards St. Louis Cardinals? Maybe Browns too?

I think this qualifies
 

1950(s) Mascot Dog Food

Stanley R. "Bucky" Harris. Second baseman for the Washington Senators in 1919-1928. 1,297 hits and 167 stolen bases in 12 MLB seasons. 1924 and 1947 World Series champion. In 1975, inducted to the MLB Hall of Fame. Named player-manager of the Washington Senators in 1924 at age 27. "The Boy Wonder" led Washington to World Series victory as "rookie" manger. Managed Washington Senators in 1924-1928, 1935-1942, and 1950-1954. Managed the Detroit Tigers in 1929-1933 and 1955-1956. Managed the Boston Red Sox in 1934. Managed the Philadelphia Phillies in 1943. Managed the New York Yankees in 1947-1948, including winning the 1947 World Series. Served as the General Manager of the Boston Red Sox in 1959-1960.

https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1671188403
https://www.net54baseball.com/attach...1&d=1671188406

1964 Penafiel (Mexico). Soda maker. There are local players, ATGs and LA Dodgers. Here's Gehrig:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...l%20Gehrig.jpg

Coney island arcade Gehrig. Made by the arcade to use in International Mutoscope Reel Co card machines after IMR bit it. Ca. 1950s-1960s. I've seen two Gehrigs ever, and one Jim Thorpe

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...e%20Gehrig.jpg

1968 Atlantic Oil winner cards. There were ten players with varying degrees of rarity. Clause Osteen ($1 winner) is the easiest--gotta be at least three of them around. Probably Wilson too. since he is also a $1 winner. I've never even seen 6 of the 10 winner cards but I've only been looking for thirty years. Here are two of them, Tommy Davis and Earl Wilson.

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...A%203%20MK.jpg
https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...c%20Wilson.jpg

I would not be surprised if Davis has no other examples: he is a $100 winner.

There is also an error card that has proven incredibly elusive: Ron Swoboda with the $5 prize. He was supposed to be a common card towards a $10 prize but a handful of the cards were printed with $5 on them. Seen under five of these. Of course, it is so obscure that no one cares...

These Rodine postcards and premiums from a division of a chemical company are rare as hens' teeth too; I've seen only a handful of them:

These are PCs

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...%20HOF%204.jpghttps://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...e%20PC%203.jpg

This is one of the premiums mentioned on the PCs as available on request. I've seen two examples of this one

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...remium%202.jpg

I don't even know what the other cards in the set are.

The 1971 Pirates Action Photos are tough. I think the paper stock being so fragile is a contributing factor. All I know is that I’ve been collecting for a long time and can attest to their scarcity. There are 16 players in the set according to PSA. I came across a checklist and discovered there are actually 24 players in the set. I currently have 15 of the players. This is the Clemente. If anyone has some they are willing to part with I’d love to hear from you!

Yes, my Schumacher is a Vern Stephens. It sounds like he and Munger are the most common, is that right?

They are to my knowledge the only 2 players ever found from the set. I think 2 or 3 of each of them.

Cliff, great ones - especially the one of Sauer (my guy). Who was the SS (back shown)? I gather it was Smalley?
Also are you familiar with the 51 WBKB "Lucky Fan" ones? I just picked up the Sauer from it.

Yes, that is the back of the Smalley. I was aware of the 1951 Cubs Lucky Fan photos but I never owned one, a couple of years ago a seller put a bunch on eBay at a pretty high price so I didn't get any although I would have jumped on the Chuck Connors if it wasn't already sold. The ones on eBay right now are very reasonably priced, I bought the Roy Smalley just to have at least one.

1967 Ashland Oil and 1967 Irvindale Dairy
 

Both of these are low pop, though you can find them around. The difficulty with the Irvindale set is when they get cut apart. They come in two pairs of two, four total cards. Like Bazooka, the border needs to be there so making singles invalidates one of the cards from being gradeable.

For the Ashland set, since it was a contest, some cards are impossible to find. One is truly one of one (Mahoney, grand prize, none graded), and another is very rare (Mazeroski, 2nd prize?, none graded).

http://boblemke.blogspot.com/2009/09...nd_12.html?m=1

I still need Ron Santo :mad:. One came up a couple of years ago for $250 and like an idiot I didn't buy it immediately.

1948 PC797 Gunther Beer postcards. I have only this one. Anyone have any others to show (and to excite Larry S.)?

I have a Don Sutton and possible one other that I could be forgetting.

I'm wondering if this 1963 Nassau County Boy Scouts of America Duke Snider (on my Mets) falls into this rarities category?

Attachment 548420

Yes and probably the 1969 NY BSA set too.

Post war type rarities 1947-73 less than 50 known of all player
 

Speaking of boy scout releases. I forget who but I remember seeing a member with some signed Cardinals photos he got from being a boy scout in st louis and inviting others to join as prize incentives. They are Early '60s (Reds is his '61 team issue photo)
They are super cool.

I have looked extensively and can't even find references of them online. Definitely fit this threads prerequisites.

Would love to own one someday. https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...527f731640.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/202...a9733be420.jpg

I checked the PSA pop report of the 1963 Nassau County BSA Snider, and there are only 12 total there, with, interestingly enough, the highest grade only being a 5. Wonder how many SGC has graded.

Only 5 Nassau Boy Scout cards graded by SGC and the highest grade was a 5.

I live in Nassau County and have never seen these.

Does anyone know anything about these cards? With 5s being the top grade, you have to wonder how they were distributed, as clearly no one seems to have a high grade version.

Here is the Sutton.

I think these Jerry Jonas cards are pretty scarce, it seems.

https://1978theyearitallbegan.blogsp...=1637886688303

I speculate, based on some research and a phone conversation with Jonas himself, that less than 50 sets may have been printed. You never know though...maybe extras were made at the time and given away to friends or employees. I wish Jerry had recalled more specifics.

I posted this card in the alternative first cards thread too. I have no idea who issued it but it comes from the 1959 Dominican Winter League season. Matty Alou played on the same team as a very young Willie McCovey, who may theoretically have a card out there somewhere too. Marichal also pitched in the Winter League that year and may also have a card:

https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/...bb6fd5e0b7.jpg

Just thinking back to earlier today and Al’s post, I’ll add 1951 Topps Major League All-Stars. ;)

Adding psa and sgc together the most graded is Doby at 50 combined. The rest are far fewer and 3 are likely sub 5 in the world with only a few known.

I also would not put the 1968 Topps 3D Brooks Robinson in with the main set, but not sure if it counts as a proto.

Not sure I saw the 1969 Topps 4 in 1's listed yet either.

Edit to add 1967 Topps Discs and Stand-ups.

The "1961" Topps Dice Game cards were discovered to have been from 1963, so they should be called 1963 Topps Dice Game. That discovery may not ever gain much hobby traction, but it's the truth nevertheless.

I may or may not have had something to do with the discovery. ;)

I'm not sure about the entire set, but I do know these are crazy rare. I believe there are only 2 of Haddix and 3 Moon that are known -

1955 Topps Hocus Focus Wally Moon (just discovered a few years ago)
1955 Topps Hocus Focus Harvey Haddix

Other than mine, Al owns one of each, and Brian Wentz owns a PSA 6 Moon (on Ebay)

Can you guys confirm if I am on track with my claim? I believe I am right on this.

https://i.postimg.cc/nh5gz4rf/001-19...ocus-Focus.jpg

There's a 1955 Topps stamp set that is incredibly rare. I haven't seen one for sale in probably 30 years. I believe they are listed in the Standard Catalog.

All of those are awfully hard to find, Shane. I have what I believe is the only complete boxing subset:

https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...ster%20Set.jpg
https://photos.imageevent.com/exhibi...ocus%20set.jpg

Kinda wish PSA'd paid more attention to orientation...

1952 National Tea Labels. Allegedly 42 ballplayers but I haven't seen more than a few. Here's one on eBay:

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/PowAA...i7/s-l1600.jpg

Rare
 

Ok guys...I was looking for sets, where there are less than 50 total cards known of all players combined in that set

69 Malanga shouldn’t be on your list. I have 24 of them…a set of panels and a set of cut cards and know others that have the set.

69 Malanga pic for reference. Horrible looking cards haha! Probably the ugliest Mick “card” produced.

no malanga
No pros pizza
No Dixie lid premiums
No 68 disc's
No sears postcards
No Irwindale braves
No meadowgold
Definitely more than 50 known in these sets

I'll add felin franks to the list

Which list ? ��

The 55 Hocus Focus are tough. I sill need 2 in the baseball subset

I have one 55 Stamp. Unfortunately it is Don Mossi

Don

If you meant my post for discs, I said 1967. There are less than 40 graded.

I guess I misunderstood though if you mean less than 50 cards known on earth of a set type. Which is how I am understanding now.

Larry is using a combination of pop count and availability to determine what classifies.

Some sets don't have a ton graded but you can search for them and easily find a handful for sale so those wouldn't make the cut. A good example being Dixie Lid premiums.

Would 1955 Topps Hocus Focus fit Larry's specifications?

55 hocus focus is a tough call
I would say there probably are somewhere around 50 total out there
Al has 21 himself, +other private collections
Probably are more than 50 but I don't know where they are

I will admit I don’t completely comprehend the parameters, but I have enjoyed hearing about some these scarcer issues. Larry is the man on the rare air stuff

National tea labels are the most interesting of all sets
There are 44 in the set, so someone must have them to make the checklist....yet I've only seen in pictures or in person maybe 13 different and 10 doubles
So there must be more than 50, but where are they?

Parameters are complete sets where there are less than 50 examples known of all cards total in set
Not individual cards, the total of all cards in the set

What if they once existed, but no longer exist in their original form?

Certainly your objection to my Meadowgold suggestion could be an example here.

Some of the complete bazooka boxes also come to mind as an example here. There were almost definitely more than 50 at one point, but due to getting sliced up and/or tossed out, some years might have less than 50 left today in fully intact form. And don’t get me started on the great flap wars - does it still count as a complete box if the flaps have been removed from one or both sides??!!

There's more to Hocus Focus than the Baseball Stars. Even the small #97-126 cards not issued in the larger size would have more than 50 known overall, but it's part of a compete set of 126 as well and they were all printed at the same time on the same sheet.

Speaking of Hocus Focus, anyone got a front and back scan of the Gehrig? I have a low-res front scan and nothing for the back.

Good point on hocus focus...that is a subset
So definitely more than 50 1955 hocus focus cards
Meadowgold I've seen more than 10 complete boxes
So more than 50 total is easy

How about the 1959 Kiwanis Baltimore Orioles clinic set? I'm not sure how many are out there, but I can't seem to find the last 5 that I need.

Attachment 548933

So what would be the rarest TOPPS issue?

1955 Topps Hocus Focus?
1955 Topps Stamps?
1961 (1963) Topps Dice Game?
1966 Topps Punchouts?
1970 Topps Cloth?

Could someone rank them?

For my Cardinals collection I have all (both) of the Hocus Focus, but I have none of the others listed above. I also do not have any 1967 Topps Standups, but my understanding is that they are not are rare as those above? Could someone confirm this?

rarity
 

depends on how u want to rank
known examples?
dice games about 25 and uncut sheet of 18
55 hocus focus baseball about 50
55 topps stamps maybe 20
66 punchouts about 25
70 cloth very few

1971 Topps Rookie Proofs

Possibly the 1949 Lummis Peanut Butter set? The pop reports show 19 for PSA and 8 for SGC = a total of 27. I don't have an example to show.

Frank - we may have touched base before, but if you're interested in selling that Moon Hocus Focus (to a loving Wally Moon collector!) please let me know. I'll pay well and it will go into a near complete collection.*

*As catalogued by Lemke + Beckett Baseball Card Alphabetical Checklist :)

And with that said, there arent a lot of these that I know of....

1949 Lummis Peanut Butter cards
 

Val mentioned 1949 Lummis Peanut Butter cards. He didn't have an example to show.

And to make this set even more rare there are two different backs! See below

FWIW the dated back NOT showing the Peanut Butter jars seems rarer.

Since Larry names the Topps Dice Card set as the rarest Topps set shouldn't anyone who has any graded examples resubmit them to PSA /SGC to change the flip to 1963 since it has been proven by the Groat card with the Cardinals that they were issued well after 1961? Would they change the flips?

Would the TPG companies change the records too to reflect they are 1963?

This is a really fun thread. Definitely strikes my fancy since there are literally hundreds of vintage boxing cards with fewer than 50 known examples from the issue and I am a boxing card type collector.

Ongoing discoveries coupled with the lack of a universally recognized hobby guide has resulted in many vintage sets, checklists, etc. not being recognized properly, in whole or in part.

https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...590&fit=bounds
https://hosting.photobucket.com/albu...590&fit=bounds

Couple of mine.