What is the rarest Topps card?

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Is there a Topps card that is considered rare? Scarce is probably a better word, but are there any variations or errors that are highly desirable?

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Posted By: Jason L

I thought Sean had made his debut when I read that title, Dan!

and of course, I don't have the answer for you. Sorry. I know....shocker!

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Posted By: Anthony

Regular issues, or test issues?
the '70 Topps stamps are impossibly tough, they don't even know the checklist. Bob Fisk has most of the ones known, I'm pretty sure all are 1/1's.
Perhaps Mr. Lemke can eloborate on those.
'61 Dice game are pretty tough as well.
I think the toughest and most desireable are the '51 Topps Connie Mack current all stars of Roberts, Stanky, and Konstantly. I believe there are only 5-6 copies of each.
These are NOT mine! :

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Posted By: Anthony

of the more mainstream ones, the '57 Bakep error is a bit tricky, and the '58 Herrer error even more so.

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Jason, I felt like Sean when I asked that question...But I promise I won't ask it again for at least 48 hours.

Anthony...thanks for the info. Would love to hear theories about those stamps that may be 1/1.

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Posted By: Clint

1977 topps Reggie Jackson Orioles version. Would like to see a picture if anyone has one.

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Posted By: dennis

1967 roger maris "yankees"

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Posted By: Dave Hornish

I would go with the 67 3D Proof card of Brooks Robinson. A precursor to the 68 3D's there are only one or two known. 61 Dice, 70 Cloth and 55 Stamps are all in the same stratosphere, but there are 15-18 known subjects in those. Brooks is the only known subject for the 67 3D's.

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Posted By: D. C. Markel

The '69 Topps, card #1 of Bowie Kuhn is extremely rare.

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Posted By: Anthony

Dan- how was the Kuhn issued? I don't think it came in packs. Was it one of Woody Gelman's table gifts at a Topps banquet?
I've been sort of looking for one for a couple of years, it's not the nicest looking card (and doesn't follow the '69 design) but they don't come up very often and seem to cost a lot. Someone offered me one in Anaheim last year for $300. and I passed, having seen on in Cleveland 2 years before for $200. What do they go for?

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Posted By: Dan Bretta

Interesting...I've never heard of this Kuhn card. Anyone have a pic? Was this similar to what Topps did for Bush 41 when they made a card of him in 1990(?)?

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Posted By: Jimmy

I would have to say those Connie Mack cards above and the 1951 Topps Team cards yellow borders are real tough in any condition. The 1952 Mantle is always on my mind

Jimmy

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Posted By: Marc S.

is one of the rarest issues ever.

I know someone that has close to a complete set...

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Posted By: daryle

How about the '52 Topps #307 Campos with black star? How rare is it?

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

I'd have to go with the 58 Pancho Herrera error card.

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Posted By: Peter_Spaeth

thanks in advance

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Posted By: Marc S.

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Posted By: Anthony

Jeff-
I thought the Herrer was pretty tough as well, and was pretty happy to have one. And then I mentioned it to Levi one day and he pulled out a stack of them- Herrer, Herre, Herr, and a few in between.
Still think it's tough, but if you really want one they can be had. Not sure the same can be said of the '61 Dice Game cards or the '70 cloth.

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Anthony, you are right. Levi has like a zillion of them on his webiste (the pricing goes up with the amount of letters missing). I think a PSA 8 version went for like 20K a few years ago.

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Posted By: Dave Hornish

Not mine (nor is the 67 robby 3D above)- Frame grab from somewhere in the past.....I believe the color is as shown

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Posted By: Kevin Saucier

"Bob Fisk has most of the ones known, I'm pretty sure all are 1/1's."


Bob knows just about eveything there is to know about ultra-rare post war cards. Plus he's a goodfellow. Here is an article about his accomplishments. The author is a good friend of mine


The Bob Fisk Collection: http://www.psacard.com/articles/article_view.chtml?artid=4562&universeid=314&type=1




Kevin

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Posted By: Mark

Here you go, Clint. From the internet.

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Posted By: Clint

Thanks Mark. That would have been a great card, replace the Yankees with the Orioles.

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Posted By: Paul S

...'67, not the 64. I know NOT THE rarest but has anybody here ever seen one? Had one? Not me. SCD describes it as "not more than a handful of these rare test issues made its way to the hobby market." A color photo of the head could be popped out and placed into a punch out base to create a stand-up display. 3 1/8" x 5 1/4"

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Posted By: barrysloate

Anybody remember the 1982 Topps "blackless variations?" Several dozen cards in the set were printed without the black print on the front, and I remember getting a batch of them (in a very bad trade for some 52 Topps high numbers). After I sold them I never saw them again and to this day don't ever remember seeing any listed in an auction catalog. They've seemed to disappear off the face of the earth (and I know I'm two years past the cut-off for this forum, but who's paying attention?).

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Posted By: Randy Trierweiler

Paul & Barry, here are some examples of both. Randy

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Posted By: Paul S

Couldn't ask for a better example. You're like a genie granting (Cardinal) wishes.

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Posted By: Randy Trierweiler

Thanks Paul, I bought the McCarver at the 1999 National in Atlanta. I'm still looking for the Cepeda.

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Posted By: Kevin Saucier

More 1982 blackless....






Kevin Saucier

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Posted By: Paul

I read the article on the Fisk collection. I had no idea that the 1963 Mantle mask was so rare.

Anyone know where I can find a '70 Cloth Sticker of game 1 of the NL Playoffs ("Seaver Wins Opener")?

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Posted By: barrysloate

Thanks guys- so they are still floating around.

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Posted By: Dave Hornish

I forgot about those 66 Punchouts, which are essentially uncatalogued. There are 7 or 8 known I believe. I have scans of a couple (screen grabs). I also have a lot of the Giant Stand Ups scanned (grabbed to be more appropriate) and am happy to post any examples or e-mail to anyone wishing to see specific cards from these or almost any other Topps test issues. I've been trying to get a type example of the Stand Ups forever and will likely never own a 66 Punchout due to price. Rob Lifson auctioned the Koufax many years ago in SCD and may know more about this "set."

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Posted By: Paul

Here's one you don't see every day. Sorry for the blurry scan.

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Posted By: CN

Paulx3, I have never seen that Seaver before. Is it a real issue? If so that is awesome. CN

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Posted By: Anthony

looks like it was missing the black plate. Topps Vault offering?

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Posted By: D. C. Markel

Anthony brings up a good point. If you follow the Topps Vault auctions, you will see many never issued in-house prototype cards. If those are included, the list could be endless. I've seen some 1967 Topps Pirates Stickers with various color plates missing up for auction. I wouldn't be surprised if each of those cards is a one of kind item.

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Is that their ebay handle -- toppsvault?

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Posted By: barrysloate

That card shows Seaver pitching left-handed, yet his number 41 is not reversed. What's that all about?

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Posted By: Anthony

Jeff-
TheToppsVault

http://feedback.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewFeedback2&userid=thetoppsvault

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Posted By: Randy Trierweiler

Love those 1968 Proofs. Gibson tried to fool the photographer.

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Posted By: D. C. Markel

OK, here's something that's currently up for auction on the Toppsvault:



DESCRIPTION: 1977 Topps Baseball Card 4-Color Film Positive! Geo. Brett (RB). Direct from the legendary Topps Vault, this auction features an original 4-color film positive for this player's 1977 Topps Baseball card. Color separation film positives were used in the set's printing process. This auction features the black tone positive. Four different colors: red, blue, black and yellow are used in this process. This rather unique collectible measures the standard 2 1/2" X 3 1/2" and overall, is in excellent condition with only minor surface wear. All Topps Vault auction lots come with a certificate of authenticity. Collectors, please visit our other pop culture and sports auctions on eBay today!


There's tons of cards that have been released in the past several years like this. As mentioned earlier, I've seen '67 Pirates Test Stickers with only one plate color used.

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Posted By: Anthony

Looks like Seaver and Gibson were hanging out with Lou Burdette a bit.

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Posted By: Paul

The Seaver is from the Topps vault. They sold off another one which I believe had only one color. Mine is missing at least the black ink. I wish I could find one that had all the colors, but I've never found one and I have been looking.

I think Anthony is right that both Seaver and Gibson were doing their best Lew Burdette impersonations that year. I emailed the Topps Vault when I purchased the card to see if they had any more information, but they didn't. I think this picture is much nicer than the boring portrait that Topps actually used for Seaver in 1968. I assume that someone in quality control must have figured out what was going on and substituted the portrait for this card.

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Posted By: dennis

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Posted By: Jeff Lichtman

Anthony -- thanks!