1979 Topps
 

I am working to upgrade/create a “master set” for 1979 baseball….nothing fancy, just finally taking all my sets/extras and cherry picking the best.

My question:

As I go though these thousands of cards, there is absolutely a large number that have deeper colors in the photography, seem to be on ever-so-slightly thicker stock and just feel more substantial in hand.

Is it possible that these were from a specific packaging format? For instance, these were all from factory sets or vending vs. retail packaging?

I tried to take a pic but you really can’t see what I am describing from photos.

Certainly not a big deal, just curious if anyone has more experience with all the different sources of these cards. I only ever bought wax and rack back in the day and over the years accumulated thousands from myriad other sources.

With 79s, I was not aware that a "factory" set was issued, so cards coming from a factory set may not explain what you have seen. While there have been observed differences in vending cards from the early 70s (1971 specifically cards measuring short l/r to fit into vending boxes) I am not aware of the differences you describe occurring in other vending boxes from the 70s .

Through out the years, Topps has used various quality sheets to print their cards on (1966 6th series, 69s, etc). Perhaps Topps used a slightly thicker stock than normal on some of the cards you have seen.

I bought cards from all the sources, and helped sort sets for the local card shop.
No factory sets in 79 for sure.

The cards were sort of variable in inking levels, and how opaque some of the inks were. If it was related to which product they came in, I didn't notice at the time.
The ones with more brilliant colors probably also have more solid black. The added contrast helps.

They did come with different types of gloss, or maybe more or less heavily gloss coated. although some gloss yellows with time while some doesn't.

I haven't looked at mine in detail, but like every Topps set, it's just a matter of how far down the rabbit hole you want to go.

They definitely look and feel more “glossy”…but they are not limited to only one “sheet” but rather all through the set…which is why I thought they all came from the same source (vending, etc)

And it’s unlikely these all came from the same place…so whatever the reason it wasn’t isolated.

None of my 77s, 78s or 80s have similar characteristics. But I do vaguely remember in the mid 80s that one of the packaging (cello or rack) gas cards with a slightly different sheen. Plus none of my examples have had any front or back wax stains

Anyway, you’re right about the rabbit hole. It was just a mild curiosity

I appreciate the responses.