[Orioles1954]

Was the 1967 Topps Venezuelan set a pirated issue that was unlicensed or unaffiliated with the actual company?

1.) Starting in 1960, the Venezuelan issue was skip released in 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966 and 1968. A 1967 release would break this pattern.

2.) While the 1959, 1960, 1962, 1964, 1966 and 1968 have back designs copied patterned after the American issue, the Venezuelan cards are completely different with totally Spanish text.

3.) The 1967 Topps Venezuelan issue is "all series." For instance, the parallels in the 1967 Topps U.S. issue of #100 Frank Robinson and #600 Brooks Robinson are in the issue. That is not the case with any other Venezuelan set which checklisted up to a certain series in the American issue. This set had to be retailed during 1968.

4.) The Retirado players (vastly overrated in my opinion) were not in any Topps issue (a first) along with the foreign Winter League players.

Absent of any confirming wrappers or albums released by Topps, my thought is this issue was pirated by Sport Grafico.