1961 Topps "Pre-Production" Dick Howser

[RCMcKenzie]

I picked this up last night and don't really know what I bought. I noticed Heritage did not call this "original art". What can y'all tell me about the production of 1961 Topps? Anyone else have something like this? Is it a colorized photo? I am assuming this is a "Topps Vault" piece. I'll post better scans when I have it in hand...Rob

[ALR-bishop]

Neat item. If it did come from Topps Vault is there by chance a certificate on the back of the frame or within the frame. I have a marked up pre production sheet of 64 Stand Ups with similar notations

[toppcat]

It's a production art piece with instructions on coloring pencilled in by Woody Gelman. Howser was a rookie in 1961 so they probably took an old minor league B&W photo (or possibly one in KC duds in Spring Training since he's in the fifth series I think) and executed the Flexichrome coloring process on it, possibly with an airbrush assist. That artwork appeared in the 1989 Topps Guernsey's Auction Catalog (page 65, Lot C10), you can see the lot number on the sticker. I suspect there is a COA on the back or if not, one was originally included by Topps. That's a ridiculously neat piece, super colorful. It sold for $1,800 in 1989, plus 10% BP, which was one of the higher prices for common Flexichrome art in the auction.

I posted about Flexichrome a few years ago, it's a labor intensive process for sure.

http://www.thetoppsarchives.com/2011...rome-away.html

[ALR-bishop]

Great input as usual Dave.

[toppcat]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Great input as usual Dave.

Thanks Al-I updated the original post to show it's from the 1989 Guernsey's auction.

[laughlinfan]

Beautiful! This is not a Topps Vault item - looks to have the 1989 Topps Auction stamp on the top right. Odd that they stamped it on the front, since most times I have seen the stamp on the back. The flexichromes are great - I still can't comprehend how they get the colors, detail, and shading so precise on these small pieces. OK, other than incredible talent!

[RCMcKenzie]

Al, I like that 64-Stand-Ups display. Very cool piece.

Dave and Marty, thanks for the information. Very helpful.

I noticed that the Howser is framed in a similar way to the 1953 Topps Calderone that sold a couple of days before. It may have been owned by the same collector. I'm more familiar with the mini-paintings that form the basis for the card.

Also I found an old REA auction of the 1961 "Mantle Blasts" card, which has a detailed description. From what I've learned, this Howser could be called the "original artwork" for the card. Thanks, Rob

http://www.robertedwardauctions.com/...-card-artwork/