[ALR-bishop]

The card can be found with the "a" missing or partially missing. You are right it is a print defect, much like the 1957 Bakep "variation". Today, with the proliferation in discovered error/defects with ebay scans, it would likely not make the cut, but it was an early on discovery and is now part of hobby lore and legend.


I have the missing a card, but also have a misprint in which he has 2 noses, two mouths and 4 eyes. The latter is a much more interesting card.

Another border line issue is the 52 Campos black star. There is another Campos with portions of the front upper left border missing. Then there are the 52 Mantle, Thompson and Robinson double print cards in which the stitches can run left or right...variations ? The debate is endless. Does a variation have to occur only when the manufacturer makes an intended change in a card ? Such as the 3 59 Spahn DOB cards.

Another example of what you refer to is the 1959 Haywood Sullivan variations. I think all 3 are in SCD and in the Registry ( could be wrong about the later). The differences involve a copyright with or without the circle on the back, and with or without the period ( .) after the "A" in USA....are all 3 print defects, or variations, or are 2 of them variations and one a print defect

I know Doug G will agree with you :-)