1963 Topps Mantle Batting Leaders - card stock question?
 

Hi all,

I was looking through my card collection and sorting out the Venezuelans. The back of the card on the right screams Venezuelan to me. Obviously, it can't be as none were issued that year. My question is, were there any variations in card stock in 1963? This one is in pretty bad shape, but it doesn't look like the card stock color is completely due to staining/age. Any thoughts are appreciated.

Thanks!

Chris

http://i1345.photobucket.com/albums/...pslskj9tnj.jpg

Can you post the fronts?

That would be a weird card to fake and then mangle into that condition.

http://img.comc.com/i/Baseball/1963/...inal&side=back
1963 Topps #2 - American League Batting Leaders (Mickey Mantle, Floyd Robinson, Pete Runnels, Chuck Hinton, Norm Siebern)
Courtesy of COMC.com

Compared to:
http://img.comc.com/i/Baseball/1963/...inal&side=back
1963 Topps #2 - American League Batting Leaders (Mickey Mantle, Floyd Robinson, Pete Runnels, Chuck Hinton, Norm Siebern)
Courtesy of COMC.com

Sure, here is a picture of the front of both cards:

http://i1345.photobucket.com/albums/...ps0a33fc7e.jpg

John, it is one of the nicer looking cards in my collection :) I agree though. I am certain it is real, it just doesn't look like the coloring is the result of staining which is throwing me off a little. The two you posted suggest maybe there is a difference in coloring though?

Anyone have any thoughts?

There have been many slight variances over the years in the card stock used by Topps. Some issues have very noticeable differences in the card stock used (IE 56 Topps gb/wb, 59 gb/wb, 66 6th ser, some 68s, & 69s). The bright white stock (versus the dull stock) used on the 66 Topps 6th series cards (and the 66 Topps FB set) to me appears to be a slightly lighter weight card stock than it's duller looking counterpart. With the 63 Topps set, I have seen some backs from the lower series that have a goldenrod colored back, very similar to the 68 MBs....I have always just considered the slight difference in the backs of the 63s due to Topps using a slightly different card stock.