Solving the repack question should be extremely simple. Has anyone bothered to ask Topps if they ever sold Christmas Rack Packs, or anything else like what you're all debating about? If the say no, or even they just don't remember, then I think you have the definitive answer. As Al said earlier, these are definitely real Topps cards, just repackaged by someone other than Topps. They have no Topps logos or copyright or other such distinguishing markings on them that I'm aware of, and when was the last time you saw ANY actual true Topps released product that did not? Answer is.........NEVER! Plus, had someone tried faking such, it would have made them subject to prosecution and civil liability to Topps.
As long as people realize what these truly are, and can therefore decide what to pay for one of these if they still want one, who really cares? They are sort of an oddball, almost fantasy type piece, and that is about it. There is nothing wrong with these as long as sellers are honest about what these truly are. But still, caveat emptor.
I can understand (and share) some people's curiosity to learn who did put these together then, and when, but if that info is not already readily available and out there, chances are now it may never be. It is possible the responsible party(ies) are no longer with us, or if they are, aren't open to revealing themselves in fear of negative reactions, harassment, and possibly even litigation. I bought, and still have, a Christmas Pack with 1968 Topps cards in it I got off Ebay long ago, for not a whole lot of money. Got and own it as sort of a novelty piece, and as an example of the way someone tried marketing Topps cards in the past. I could quickly see and realized what it was way back then, at least a couple decades or more ago. And though not an actual Topps issue, it does represent a legitimate, albeit alternate, form of marketing Topps cards.
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