1952 Topps #131-190 Gray Backs

[tedzan]

Here's my Billy Martin and Cass Michaels cards with the regular WHITE backs and the rare GRAY backs....note the color shading in the fronts.

I have 46 of the possible 60 cards in this series with this rare back. And, I've been searching for the remaining 14 cards for almost 20 years.
I know of only two veteran collectors in the hobby that have a complete run of all 60 cards.

I am still searching for the explanation of these cards. Over the years, various stories have been offered. But, no concrete evidence to back
them up.

Anyone here have an explanation for these Gray Backs ? One thing we can say about them....they were Short-Short-Printed.











TED Z

[toppcat]

I would hazard a guess they were subcontracted (much like 2nd series 10 years later that resulted in green prints) due to demand for the second series; likely to a printer in upstate NY. Some probably made it across to Canada due to the location of the plant, hence the belief they were sold there.

Where have pockets of these been found? I would posit the possibility of distribution around the Great Lakes but all this is merely educated guesswork, although I think they could resemble how the high numbers were sold as well, outside of Philly, Boston and New York. I can't see these being distributed beyond a small region.

I believe Topps used their old leaf tobacco distribution network for decades after the Shorin's stopped selling that product, so whatever those routes were some of their card distribution mirrors.

[tedzan]

I'll add that the one story regarding these rare cards that I've heard and I suspect is true is..that they were NOT sold with Bubble Gum products.
As there is no gloss on the fronts like the regular issue 1952 Topps cards.

Also, that Topps printed this series of 60 cards subsequent to the following series (#191 - #250). That would account for their backs have been
printed on Gray cardboard.



TED Z

[Doug]

I had read a theory that they were packaged in boxes of tissues. Is there any validity to that idea?

[tedzan]

A long-time hobby veteran told me that these cards were packaged with Doeskin tissues in the 1952-1953 timeframe.

Also, I heard that they were found in packs with Topps' Rails & Sails non-sports cards.


TED Z

[Doug]

Originally Posted by tedzan

A long-time hobby veteran told me that these cards were packaged with Doeskin tissues in the 1952-1953 timeframe.

Also, I heard that they were found in packs with Topps' Rails & Sails non-sports cards.


TED Z

The theory I had read said that they were found in boxes of Doeskin tissues as well as Topps Wings cards. So far I haven't been able to find any confirmation from anybody that actually pulled one of these cards from a tissue box.

[Doug]

Here's a SGC 80 Bob Rush labeled "1952 Topps Canadian" for what it's worth: http://cgi.ebay.com/1952-TOPPS-CANAD...-/380271655875 On the back it almost seems to have a glue stain, possibly from being glued to the bottom of a tissue box?

[Billwinkle]

I am in Canada and my brother is as well, we never had a car growing up so all these cards are bought in Canada. If you look at the scan you will note that these are higher number "grey backs". To be honest most of the cards he has seem to have the grey back with very few being the lighter back cards. The binder sitting in front of me right now has over 90% of the grey back versions from #2 up to #300. How is that possible There are close to 250 different cards in this binder yet only 5 have the creme colour back and one is a black back. Please pass on an explanation to this? Read next post as well.