Questions for Any Topps Printing Experts Out There...

[toppcat]

Originally Posted by JollyElm

Because I've isolated some 1962 'green tint' cards that I am convinced are short prints, I need some experts to give me some insight into 'standard' Topps printing processes. This is an extremely frustrating puzzle because I have been unable to locate any pictures or examples of uncut 1962 green tint sheets.

If you have any information pertinent to the following questions, please chime in and add whatever you can to the conversation. Hopefully, some of you guys can provide me with some good, strong facts.

Thanks!

1. Did Topps always produce printing quantities of 88 cards per run?
The green tints run from #110 to 196, which means a total of 87 cards (if we assume the misnumbered card #139 of Hal Reniff fills the spot of card #159). This total includes the #192 checklist card. If there was an additional checklist included (for the upcoming series of cards), that would bring the total to 88 cards.

No, 55 66 77 88 99 110 121 and 132 all occurred. Except for the occasional pulled then subbed card or two, like in 1958, rows of 11 dictated the arrays.

2. Did Topps 'always' print checklists of the current series as well as checklists for the upcoming series?
In other words, would checklist #192 have been printed in the previous run before the green tints AND also in the green tint run? Usually yes from 1961-72. A great example of this is in 1968 where the 2nd series checklist can be found with fine or coarse burlap mesh.

3. Very important. When Topps created short prints, was there a 'standard' number of SP's in a print run?
In other words, did they usually short print 4 cards, 8 cards or some other specific amount? Is there a definitive number of SP's based on the mathematics of the printing sheets? Yes and the number of short prints per series are usually divisible by 11. This works for color variations as well in 1958.

4. One last checklist question. If question #2 (above) is answered yes, was the additional checklist in the run 'definitely' card #277?
You never hear about checklist #277 being part of the GT's, so this could be a very important revelation, adding it to the traditional list of GT's.
Usually it was current series DP checklist, next series checklist SP or regular print

"Constants" above are for 1957-72 with series checklists starting in 1961. There are almost always exceptions though. I don't think it's likely there are green tint SP's BUT that run was printed by a contract printer and not Topps' normal printer at the time so theoretically a change in the normal order of things is possible. Topps used Lord Baltimore Press (in Baltimore but with a NYC office) for most of their earliest sets through about 1960 and then went over to Zabel Bros. in Philly, who had printed Bowman cards, after Lord Baltimore was bought out and changed by its new parent company, International Paper, into a different kind of facility. Specialty work was sometimes done elsewhere, as was overflow work like in 1962.