Is This A Proof
 

hi guys, this card might not be old enough for this forum, but i hope you will be able to give me some ideas on this card.

It looks hand cut, and is blank backed.

any thoughts??

[IMG]<a href="http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/briancrotts/?action=view&amp;current=1077.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/briancrotts/1077.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>[/IMG]

[IMG]<a href="http://s7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/briancrotts/?action=view&amp;current=1078.jpg" target="_blank"><img src="http://i7.photobucket.com/albums/y275/briancrotts/1078.jpg" border="0" alt="Photobucket"></a>[/IMG]

I don't think you can know for sure, but it's possible. You can rule out a blank back card pulled from a pack, as those are factory cut.

I don't know, but I think there's a reasonable chance it's a proof.

Or scrap would be very possible. Bad sheet cut up

I have nine or ten '73 topps cards that have blank backs, but I' don't know why. I have also seen one or two blank back '73s on ebay in the past as well.

I know yours is '63, just made me think of my '73s

to me
 

The card really should have gone in the post war forum on this board, but that aside, (to me) it looks like a card cut off of an unfinished sheet. I don't think there is an exact definition of a proof baseball card but when I think of one I think of cross-hairs for alignment and generally the lack of a name....besides the traits it DOES have....the blank back and the hand cut. Also, sometimes there will be minute differences in the design itself. If I owned this I would either call it scrap or a pre-production card. I think the term "proof" is abused in the hobby but not to the extent of words such as "rare."

Possible cut from an advertising sheet?

Joe

Most blank back Topps were misprints that were inserted into packs and have the normal factory cuts. I pulled one or two as a kid.

The salesman sample uncut panels have the backs printed, so it wouldn't be from that. On salesman samples, any advertising is on paper pasted over the backs, and often to usually part of the backs is still showing.

A scap, handcut from a printing sheet certainly is a possibility.

Cut from other advertising sheet or related? I don't know. I don't know what advertising was used or is out there. Such an item most would probably be on a different stock than the regular cards, so that's an easy question to answer.