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Topps Xmas Packs

Hey Guys,

I am doing a blog for Heritage Auctions on the mystery of the Topps Christmas packs that have popped up throughout the years. I am compiling information and was wondering if any of you have theories on who made them or where/when they originated. Please include your full name, as I may use your post as a quote for the HA blog.

Hunt auctions has been auctioning these off at the rate of about 5-10 per month for the last few years it seems...someone obviously found a hoard of these and has been slowly introducing them into the hobby. I'd like to know where these came from. The consignor of these may have your answer.

There have been several posts on these...they are farces, fabricated well after the fact.

My recollection of these was that a company purchased inventory from Topps considerably after the cards were produced, and packaged them into these Christmas packs. It's certainly possible to get star cards inside, but also possible to get EX condition (or worse) cards. One should not purchase these expecting mint or NM cards, nor should one purchase them thinking they're getting anything as scarce as an actual unopened pack from the manufacturer.

-Al

Anyone got a link to the discussions about these stockings? I'd like to read up on them. I have some 1977 Star Wars Topps packs that have only 4 cards in them, they are the wrong series, and there are no stickers in the packs. I came to learn that these were packaged for Halloween giveaways.

Here's a few. Searches showed a few others, but a lot of it is the same discussion. Al (aka bishop in the thread) gives a good summary in the first link...

Quote:

70s Fanatic---when Mark Murphy was first selling these exclusively, he and his business partner claimed the cards had been bought by a 3d party from Topps, repackaged in around 1982, and then sold in retail stores. He said the packs ran from 54 to 63. Later packs surfaced from 52 and 53. Now I have heard some exist for post 63. Murphy and his partner could not or would not say who the 3d party buyer was or which specific stores retailed them. I have had people say they remember them but they can not be very specific about where or when. Whatever they were originally, I don't think there is any doubt that someone else is continually recreating them today. So, not only are you not getting untouched Topps cards, but you may be getting 2nd, 3d or 4th generation repackages. But, it would be interesting if someone had first hand knowledge of how and when the first such packs came to be and where they were originally sold. A hobby mystery

thread on CU

Another

...and one more

I remember the Halloween packs in the very early 80's I think. Mostly non-sports cards like Jaws and Star Wars from what I recall. Funny, I just found a huge collection of the wrappers I saved as a kid from those.

Quote:

Originally Posted by CW (Post 1215537)

Here's a few. Searches showed a few others, but a lot of it is the same discussion. Al (aka bishop in the thread) gives a good summary in the first link...

thread on CU

Another

...and one more

Thanks for the links Chuck. So I'm guessing that most pack collectors do not believe these are legit?

http://www.huntauctions.com/phone/im...17&lot_num=634