Topps Vault

[Sierra79]

Just out of curiosity, does anyone collect any proof cards from the Topps Vault or match photos? I think some of the stuff is pretty cool, especially from the 80's and 90's when so much of the product was over produced. Any thoughts on the Topps Vault?

[WillBBC]

I'm a big fan. They offer some really cool pieces. I'd love to get some of the original art used for the comics on the older reverses.

I purchased a couple of Topps contracts from the 70s/80s at a fair price. Really cool pieces to have.

[BearBailey]

Agreed. I like what they offer very interesting pieces at typically reasonable prices. I've gotten everything from proofs to offers to original comic strips.

[David W]

A couple of pieces I got from them. The cards glued to the notebook pages were supposedly Woody Gelman's way of approving the sets as they came out. Two of each card glued to a photo album page front and back.

[Sierra79]

Thought this was cool. After I bought this contact sheet of Jeter (Topps Vault), which was listed as matching his 1994 Bowman card, I realized it also had his '93 Bowman rookie image on it as well. Two images from his first two Bowman cards!!! I couldn't figure out if the other image with a red 'X' was used in some capacity or it was marked and never actually used. I'm probably going to get it framed with both of the actual Bowman cards.

[AGuinness]

When I first got introduced to Vault items, I thought they were pretty cool and bought a number of them. But the appeal didn't last for me and I moved away from them. I sold off most of what I acquired, although I kept these because I thought they were pretty sweet (can't argue against Pedro and Tim Raines, right?): the Raines is a 4 color film positive from the 1982 set, while the Pedros are slide negatives from both the front and back of the 1999 set and the 2002 Gallery set. I really enjoy the slides and the information included on them, a peak behind the scenes in the card-making process.
I never got a copy of that 2002 Gallery card, so I couldn't include it in the photo, but now I know I'll grab one this weekend for COMC's big sale event...

[JoeDfan]

Originally Posted by WillBBC

I'm a big fan. They offer some really cool pieces. I'd love to get some of the original art used for the comics on the older reverses.

Like this kind?

[Exhibitman]

when the Vault started on eBay I bought a bunch of the 1975 basketball match photos. Hand-inked or painted, and most had Woody Gelman's notes on the backs.

[Sierra79]

The only Topps Vault stuff I don't personally care for are the modern 1/1 blank backs that they churn out with every single product, but beyond that I find the process used to make the cards (especially the really iconic ones) to be pretty darn cool. I think many of the Topps vault items look good framed or simply displayed with their respective cards.

I know it's not Topps, but I was able to grab this Dick Perez original for the price of dirt. It was used for the '93 Donruss Masters of the Game which was featured on the box itself.

[Jim65]

I have a few Vault items and love em.