I’ve been interested in this topic for some time but haven’t seen anything beyond speculation ... until I read this blog...
https://boblemke.blogspot.com/2013/0...vered.html?m=1
Hobby veteran Bob Lemke breaks down the sales numbers that Topps was legally forced to disclose up until 1961. While wholesale sales numbers have limitations - for instance no breakout by series - it is a solid clue to what was happening during the early years of Topps production.
Here’s a link to the actual 112 page government document - which fascinatingly also discloses other sales figures as early as 1933 Goudey
https://www.ftc.gov/sites/default/fi...ges744-855.pdf
For those who want the “cliff notes” to this. Here’s a chart of 1951-1961 topps sales
https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-znGUIjMr3...opps+chart.jpg