1987 Fleer Glossy Brown backs

[Exhibitman]

I also have an 85 Tiffany Gwynn that is tan uniformly on front. That's the part of the card that is varnished, so maybe it is a varnish issue?

[HasselhoffsCheeseburger]

Adam, you think the sheet was laying on top of another sheet that had too much varnish and it transferred to the backs?

Arthur

[steve B]

That Doran made me wonder if it was a varnish thing, but I'd think the fronts would be obviously yellowed/browned as well if it was the varnish. I do have regular Topps cards that have varnish that yellows (and a few others too), but I'm not sure about the fleer Glossy, or why it would be just certain cards.


I can see it easily being environmental for a first or last card in a cardboard box, or the edges of a whole set in cardboard. But not so much for ones in a tin. Are they in cellophane in the tin? That should sort of protect them from most environmental damage.

[HasselhoffsCheeseburger]

No, they're raw in the tin.

And if it's a transfer from another sheet, why did only the cards to the right and above it have it and not the card directly underneath it have it?

Arthur

[Exhibitman]

Not a transfer, a flaw in the varnish that caused the paper to tan.

[HasselhoffsCheeseburger]

Just ripped open a Glossy set for PSA fodder and, sure enough, found a brown back in the first stack I pulled out. Pete Rose, too.

For the life of me I can't make heads or tails of why it's only on one card per set and why, on some cards, it's only partially covered (like the one with it on the edges).

I'll just keep ripping sets and pulling them out. Zero chance they're ever recognized as legitimate variations so might as well have fun with them.

Arthur

[ALR-bishop]

It's not the recognition, it is the journey that is important Arthur.

I was tempted to say in the intervening time I had put together a full set of brown backs but was worried you might ask for scans