1953 Bowman Color and B&W Card Backs

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by toppcat

PSA pops don't support the 97-112 SP theory, probably some weird shortage in a major find back in the day in the day led to the idea like the 1967 Topps Brooks Robinson.

Hi Dave

Perhaps, I did not clearly state my thoughts regarding the 4th sheet (cards #97 - 128). It has always puzzled me that the first 16 cards (#97 - 112) of the "mysterious" 4th sheet
are comparable in availability to the Low numbers in this set. However, the other 16 cards (#113 - 128) on this 4th sheet are much tougher to find. And in my opinion are tougher
than the High #cards (#129 - 160).

Back in the early 1980's, when I was completing my 1953 set, cards #113 - 128 were definitely the last ones on my want-list. And, especially cards #121 - 128.

Furthermore, the proof of the scarcity of these 16 cards was evident in the following scenario. I lived in Toms River, NJ then. In town was a BB card store owned by Bob O'Leary. He
made a trip to a little town in Mississippi, where he acquired an original collection of approx. 2000 cards (1953-1955 TOPPS and BOWMAN's). It included approx. 250 cards of 1953
BOWMAN. The majority being Color ones and some B/W. Most interesting was that the assortment of the color cards were numbered #113 through #160. Really, there were no Low
number cards in this group. The 32 Hi #'s averaged 6 cards each. The #113 - 128 cards averaged 3 cards each.

Dave....you are an expert on TOPPS and BOWMAN's from that era, can you explain this apparent "split-personality" of the 4th sheet cards ?

Thanks Dave,

Originally Posted by tedzan

Regarding the Series make-up of this set, I have had (or have seen) 4 of the 5 possible 32-card sheets of this set. The Hi # sheet (cards # 129 - 160) is somewhat
more available than the other sheets. I have not seen a 4th sheet (cards # 97 - 128). It is quite a mystery as to why cards #113 - 128 on this sheet are difficult to
find with respect to cards #97 - 112 ? ?

Or, anyone else who would like to chime in here on this particular subject.


TED Z

T206 Reference
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