1952 3rd Series Gray Backs vs. 1960 5th Series White Backs

[ALR-bishop]

Good points Patrick.

I did finish out my 60 set with both gray and "white" = cream backs. I have seen pictures of the white white backs but never pursued them separately from the cream backs.

I think O'Connell had an article with comparison photos in an SCD article some years back

[Zach Wheat]

If I remember correctly, they used 2 printers at 2 different printing companies for this set. In previous Topps issues - they concluded that 1 printing company could not keep up with production once the set came out and consequently engaged another printer with a different type of press to handle some of the overflow. The primary cardboard stock used in printing was initially the more expensive white back stock but the less expensive gray cardboard stock was preferred by some at Topps. Apparently the 2nd printing company (using a different printer) had difficulty printing on white cardboard stock - and some batches - were printed in both types of cardstock, with #441-572 printed on only gray stock. I suspect the "white" backed cards were from their initial print run before one of the printers discontinued printing on this stock.

Therefore the gray backed cards should show printing differences as well - since they came from 2 different printers.

Z