1952 Topps

[irv]

Originally Posted by Leon

Been looking for high numbers for a short while. They don't come cheaply and aren't abundant, that is for sure.....

That is what I have found as well.

Although I have quite a few high number cards, when looking for lower numbered commons, those are by far the most I see.

When I do see high numbered cards, I see most have no trouble getting high dollars for them, especially when listed on PWCC, but it is surprising similar cards don't fetch that when they are just listed by an everyday seller on E-Bay?

Originally Posted by toppcat

I've been on record regarding the highs and don't buy the garbage scow story for a second. If the cards were, in fact, destroyed, they most likely were tossed in the furnace at Bush Terminal as Topps would not have spent the money if they could have just lit them up. I realize they had access to a dock at the facility but Bush Terminal had its own trash and garbage disposal facility as it was essentially a self-contained industrial facility (originally a self contained military facility).

My belief is they printed the highs in the same or slightly lesser quantities as the semi-highs and then slowly sold off excess product and returns in other countries before the remainder went off to Card Collectors Company in the mid to late 50's. CCC in their March 1968 catalog still had complete high number runs for $90 and sold singles for a buck when first series cards went for 20 cents and semi highs for .15. Regular cards were 12 cents otherwise. Personally, I'd say Topps was on a commission basis with CCC and it was in their interest to keep the high number market inflated. Just a theory but I don't believe the garbage scow story and Sy Berger told a lot of whoppers about Topps over the years.

It's interesting to me that the highs on the PSA pop report only seem to be about 25% scarcer than the semi-highs. I doubt the ratio is that exact but the semi's and the highs are not all that far apart in terms of availability. Let's face it, the highs are not that scarce.

I have always heard/believed they were dumped in the ocean, but your theories also sound like a possibility?

I do disagree, however, that high numbers are just as abundant as as lower numbers, but for all I know, maybe people are just hanging onto them?

I recently got around to re-scanning all my cards, just trying to figure out/get around to uploading them to collector's focus.

Some card are obviously better than others, but it was humbling the details I now see after re-scanning them