o-pee-chee graybacks

[Exhibitman]

Topps did the same thing with 1977 basketball: bright white backs and gray backs but no one seems to care...

[deweyinthehall]

Don't be so sure - I have a set of 77 Topps Basketball on the white stock, and have been looking (admittedly not very hard) for a set on the gray backs for some time. I read they were produced in approximately the same numbers as each other, but e-Bay offerings seem to only be of the white stock variety. I want the gray backs because, well, the white stock doesn't feel very Topps-ish for the era.

[Rich Klein]

1979 topps football as well has 2 different color backs.

[deweyinthehall]

1979 Football? I'd be interested to see that - I know the team checklist cards, like most across Topps' product lines at that time, were available in uncut sheet form via a wrapper redemption, and that the sheets were on thin white stock.

[Rich Klein]

For 1979 Football Beckett calls them regular and cream-colored back. IIRC -- the cream colored backs are more difficult but there is no price difference as collectors have never really cared.

1973-74 O-Pee-Chee Hockey also have 2 colored backs; I broke those out at COMC a couple of years ago.

There are more I would wager.

Rich

[irv]

Originally Posted by Rich Klein

For 1979 Football Beckett calls them regular and cream-colored back. IIRC -- the cream colored backs are more difficult but there is no price difference as collectors have never really cared.

1973-74 O-Pee-Chee Hockey also have 2 colored backs; I broke those out at COMC a couple of years ago.

There are more I would wager.

Rich

I forget which ones now but one of those colors was associated with vending and the other in packs?

From my limited knowledge on them, I understand the dark backs are the more desired cards, especially when they're the cards of stars and rookies.

A somewhat recent PSA 9 Billy Smith dark back just sold for $1,300-$1,400 from PWCC, IIRC?

I guess that's not conclusive that the dark back was the reason for that price realized, but I believe it was listed as being the harder to find dark back card?

[deweyinthehall]

I'm trying to build a Dwight Evans player collection, and trying to discern from scanned images at eBay, COMC, etc. what backs look gray and which ones look white is hard. Even when one is listed as one or the other, the images often both look similar to the card I already own. Here is an image of my 1 1981 OPC Evans, next to a 1981 Topps for comparison. Andy thoughts as to whether mine is a white or gray back?