Hybrid 1952 Topps 1st/2nd Series Panel
 

The panel is red backed and has cards 76-80 in row 1 and 85-81 (reverse order) on row 2. It was in a 2017 REA auction and I only found it by chance. The theory has always been 1st series Topps cards were contained in #1-80, but maybe that only applied to black backs?

I recently blogged about this, hoping to find out more but nothing else has come to light. http://www.thetoppsarchives.com/2023...-is-going.html

Anyone have thoughts on this? I've run it by a few folks with deep knowledge of the 52's and it's a real stumper.

I've been looking out for any further evidence since this appeared, but I haven't found anything to support split series. No miscut I have been able to find supports this sheet being a general production layout, showing a card from a different series adjacent.

Possibilities:

1) It is just a pre-production sample or test of some kind, perhaps comparing series 2 printing outcome to series 1 cards to keep a consistent look. Cool and interesting, but not a paradigm shift.

2) The series 1-6 all blend together and cards were gradually replaced by other cards. Somehow this was done without any of the back differences (series 3 white stock, series 1 black backs) spilling into what we today consider a series. Alternatively, the alleged Canadian third series is not Canadian and is a product of this, being printed on a combo sheet before what we call series 2 was discontinued and removed from production sheets.

3) Instead of printing the 50 series 2 cards 4 times on a sheet (100 cards on a half sheet, 2 complete sets per) they re-printed some or all of series 1 and reissued with series 2, complicating the layout. This oddity was restricted to series 2 and only series 2.


I think something along the lines of 1 is much more likely with the available evidence and deductive reason.


EDIT: 4) It is a fake, the product of the perfect card faking ring that made undetectable fakes without leaving any trail of evidence in the 1950's or 1960's conspiracy theory that many here believe in.

Well I hope it's not #4!

I really don't know what to think of it but would say if it's a merging of series in a press run, I would not rule it out happening in later series (other than the high #'s).

Is it possible that the whole set was printed at once but only released in series throughout the year? And one observation that sheds no light on anything: Wehmeier is notoriously difficult to find centered while the card below it, Kuzava, is one of the easy ones. Based on their position relative to one another on this sample, that makes no sense.

Definitely something odd/strange going on here.:confused:
Speaking of Wehmeier, and the fact it is such a difficult card to find in great centered high grade shape, a PSA 8 just sold last night at REA for $24,000 dollars.
If I searched correctly, the last 8 sold for just over $5,000 back in 2017.
https://bid.robertedwardauctions.com...?itemid=139751

Well....

Some major P(l)ayers working on that set in psa 8 nowadays.

MAYBE since the printed the blacks, they decided to print some reds with the next series? I've never seen that panel, but is curious!

It's possible. But I don't think it's at all likely.
First, you'd have to tie up your money for months with finished product just sitting there.
Then there's the potential team changes and stuff like that.


One thought I had was if Topps did presentation sets in 52 for players or executives. Maybe after the season?
OR
I think at some point they gave a certain number of cards to each player. If they started that partway into 52 that would explain a combined 1st/2nd sheet.
The only year I can recall seeing a presentation set is 62, but I haven't followed that all that closely.