1952 Topps CREAM back vs GRAY back help???

[111gecko]

Looks like they are gray backs to me. Nice....!!!

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by 111gecko

Looks like they are gray backs to me. Nice....!!!

They look really weird on the front. They look dirty without really being dirty is the best way I can describe them.

[painthistorian]

Its hard to tell with your scanner but that looks like it might be a toned cream back, there are die lots of cream reverses within printing range, the actual grey backs are very dark and the washed out fronts can be either type in 3rd series...THE best way to tell is take a cream back from any series and put reverse side by side with those other cards you pictured, if its slightly darker, its tonal but the greybacks are very clearly darker, good luck!

[111gecko]

Originally Posted by bobbyw8469

They look really weird on the front. They look dirty without really being dirty is the best way I can describe them.

I’ve owned a bunch of gray backs and those fronts are dead on for grays. They also have regular fronts that are gray backs as well, much rarer; but you found some.
Pretty exciting. Tell us more!

[bobbyw8469]

Nothing really to tell. I got them between 10-15 years ago and just boxed them up and forgot about them.

[bobbyw8469]

They were the only cards in the sleeve. Maybe the previous owner knew exactly what they were and that's why they were the only ones there. Then he dies, and his family consigns the lot? Then some dumb schmuck like me won it and didn't know what he had and just left it in the box and forgot about it for a decade or so. Sounds about right.

[irv]

You'll likely get more hits/info in the Post War section, Bobby?

I have no opinion as I have never had one in hand. I have some cards that I thought might be gray backs but members in the PW section cleared that up for me.

With so many different back shades and color variations, plus age and fading, it can be real tough, imo.

[bobbyw8469]

Originally Posted by irv

You'll likely get more hits/info in the Post War section, Bobby?

I have no opinion as I have never had one in hand. I have some cards that I thought might be gray backs but members in the PW section cleared that up for me.

With so many different back shades and color variations, plus age and fading, it can be real tough, imo.

No crap. That's what I am learning. I think a real good tale tell sign is the 'washed out/grayed out" front. And they got to be within a certain range of numbers.