Topps Test issues from the 90's
 

REA had 2 lots of very scarce Topps test issues in their last auction. First is the Jersey / Pencil Holders. They had 3 in one lot A Jordan, Griffey Jr. And Mcgwire. The lot sold for about $1500. And a complete set of 1998 Sports Cubz. That set sold for around $5k. But the bidding seemed to be me and one other in extended. Where it started at around $700.
Given how rare and how many Test issue collectors used to bid in REA I thought it was pretty soft. But looking at test issues from 80's to present. There is very little interest.
When I began collecting the 1969 Super Baseball set was $25. This was because you could buy a set from Bruce Yeko in CT. For $25. Until around 1975 when Mr. Yeko ran out.
Test sets that followed like cloth stickers from 77 to stand ups and Triple Headers were immediately gobbled up by collectors. Even 1975 Mini's a test issue where the majority of them were absorbed into the hobby. Vs being distributed to local stores for kids. I know this changed how these issues were / are viewed. But the two lots mentioned were never issued to the public. They are true test issues. Kicked around but never issued to the public. And because of that only very small Quantities exist. I am surprised there is not more interest.

I'm sure many people didn't see the auction (I know I didn't). And also, 90s collectors tend to be player collectors more than other eras (at least that's what it appears to me). So a whole set of SportzCubz might not sell as well. But I'm sure if the owner breaks it up and sells each card to a 90s player supercollector, they'll make bank. I know I would have paid much more for my Larkin SportzCubz than I did. And I know several other Larkin collectors who would have caused the price to rise if it was a public auction where I found it.

It reminds me of the 96 Mirror Gold set that sold. I bought one of the cards when that set was broken up and sold off individually. And that guy had to have made a fortune. All he had to do was front $150,000 and take all the risk himself to pull it off. :p

Edit to add: I just found the auction. I tried to search SportzCubz and couldn't find it. Turns out, they use the same spelling "SportsCubz" with an "s" that baseballcardpedia uses. Does anyone know where that spelling came from? The card literally spells it "SportzCubz" with a "z" right on the card.

I did Topps test issues up to 1994. In the 80s the toughest Topps sets for me to complete were the 80 Coins, 82 Blackless ( just print defects really but listed in SCD at one time), 84 Encased or Head in the Box, the 84 Darryl Palmer card, the 85 Minis, 88 Cloth, 89 Big Head Suckers, and 89 Yankee/Mets proof Double Headers ( 8).

For the 90s ( up to 94), the hardest for me to run down were the George Bush card, the annual Golden Spike cards, the 90 Mylar Stickers ( 6), and the 94 Bilingual set.

I did end up with one example of the SportsCubz

Tim ..Good point about the set vs singles. I know it would have sold better broken up. But since a number of the sets have already been broken up I was compelled to bid to try and keep them together. I dropped out at 5k which I thought was getting near break up value
Al ..did you notice the Jersey / Pencil Holders identified as a topps test issues. I definitely would have bid more if I had seen a Topps mark on them. They were listed as 90's but Mcgwire being in the trio seems to post to 98 or 99.

I had a chance to buy a case of those. Instead I bought a few cases of the regular 89 and 90 Double Headers from the same seller in the late 90s.:o

I thought I was going to get the set for a real steal. I was rather surprised by the lack of other bidders. It still went cheaper than I had originally expected, but I could tell there was likely one other person still going strong bidding against me.

I'm a test issue junkie and picked up a number of these a few years back, but could not resist the entire set.

Picked up a few more 1980 Pepsi to complete that set and the 1985 mini set (shy a few cards all in the proof form).

I am still shy many cards from the 1990 Topps Mylar stickers set. Those never come up.

Mylar stickers and some other scarce stuff, particularly the Coke Yankees

Working on 1969 Super now. If you still own some that you would consider selling or trading I would love to chat! 😁

69 "Supers"
 

I really like that set. Have not followed prices recently but glad I put mine together a long time back.

However, the Rose card may be one of his worst looking