1948 Topps backs

[BradH]

I purchased a collection yesterday that included 145 cards from the 1948 Topps set. While I had 2 or 3 of these cards in my collection already, I am not an active collector of this issue, so please pardon my “novice” questions.

As I sorted through the cards, I noticed that some of them have slightly different backs, with regard to where the card number is located. Most of them run perpendicular to the text on the back, but a few run parallel to the text and have slightly different wording for the card number.

In the example below of card #17 of Series A, the left (more common) version has shorter wording than the right. Also, the "See directions inside wrap" wording is gone on the right version, but all other text on the card is the same and the photos on the front are the same.

Does the different placement of the card numbers mean anything – maybe a print run that was done later in the year perhaps? If there are any 1948 Topps “master set” collectors, I guess they would seek both versions of this issue?

Thanks for any thoughts you might have.

[ALR-bishop]

I only have the baseball subset of 19, plus the William Bendix Movie Star card as Ruth. All of my backs are like the one of the left of your scans

[ALR-bishop]

[Cardboard Junkie]

Aloha, Cool little cards. I have the 19 baseball subjects. Interesting because they are topps first entry into "cards". Neat unopened pack too. The great Frank Nagy, of Detroit, had a "stack" of undeveloped, uncut sheets of these. If memory serves, he had them "professionally" developed. I don't know how he acquired them, but I seem to remember they were produced by topps in a "garage" . Anyone ever hear anything about that? dave.

[novakjr]

As far as these go. I have 13 Wrestlers, and 14 boxers, plus another 4 of the baseball and 1 football. Out of those, only 4 have the numbers on the bottom(3 Boxing and 1 wrestling)..PSA made no designation on the slabs, if that means anything.

[toppcat]

I think one version (without "See Directions Inside Wrap") came in or with, citing three possibilities:

1) With Greeting Cards (Barker Greeting Card Co.);

2) Possibly through mail order from Topps as they sold off surplus cards in ads in comic books in 1949;

3) They were in first series (of 126) nickel packs, which had the insert with directions. If I am not mistaken, only the first series of 126 came this way.