1957 Topps Ted Williams - NAME.. THE.. STAIN
 

I have a great looking 1957 Ted Williams with a weird stain on it. Ive been looking at it so long but I've never been able to figure out what the heck this thing is by his neck. Does any one know what it is? It gives the card some nice character and i know its "my ted" so im not sure id want it gone even if i could get rid of it (im sure i cant) But I really want to know what the heck it is. Any ideas are appreciated:


http://i1045.photobucket.com/albums/...psnfsy1god.jpg

Ah someone told me they are "print bubbles" any idea what exactly happens to cause this?

not a stain at all. just a "fish eye" or printing blotch/defect.

Most are from printing plates having something on them. If you can fill it with your finger it's something in the coating of card stock when manufactured. Last if the last run the pressman did a bad clean up it could have been from the ink or blankets.

Agreed...something in the printing process.

All correct. We referred to those as "hickeys" when we were in the trade. A little fleck of dried ink or a shred of paper
gets stuck on the inked roller or blanket of the press, or on the printing plate itself, and creates that effect. There must be
more examples of that card with a very similar print defect.

Often caused by water in the ink or not enough water in the ink during the print process.