Show...me...your print variations!

[Cliff Bowman]

Here is the 70 Topps Joe Coleman with writing in the sky, I'm guessing it is 'DETROIT', maybe from the Tigers team card. The only reason I knew about this card was that someone listed a PSA 8(?) 1970 Topps Joe Coleman on eBay and described it as a print error and wanted something like $50 for it. I looked for another one cheaper and found this one right away, but it must be rare because I looked through a few hundred 70 Topps Coleman cards on the web very recently and couldn't find another one.

[ALR-bishop]

Neat card Cliff

[Cliff Bowman]

I think I figured out where the ‘DETROIT’ came from on the 1970 Topps Joe Coleman card, it was still on the printing plate from a 1969-70 Topps Basketball Detroit Pistons card. If someone could post a scan of a 1969-70 Topps Basketball Detroit Pistons card I would appreciate it because my Xfinity box is fried and I can’t get on my home computer.

[savedfrommyspokes]

Originally Posted by Cliff Bowman

Here is the 70 Topps Joe Coleman with writing in the sky, I'm guessing it is 'DETROIT', maybe from the Tigers team card. The only reason I knew about this card was that someone listed a PSA 8(?) 1970 Topps Joe Coleman on eBay and described it as a print error and wanted something like $50 for it. I looked for another one cheaper and found this one right away, but it must be rare because I looked through a few hundred 70 Topps Coleman cards on the web very recently and couldn't find another one.

Nice card Cliff...in hand does it appear the lettering in the sky is caused by a wet-sheet transfer, or something else?

[bobsbbcards]

[Cliff Bowman]

I am very certain that it was printed on the card and is residual from a 1969-70 Topps Basketball Detroit Pistons card that was still on the printing plate, similar to the 1967 Topps Baseball 2nd Series cards that can be found with those fold out comic book images on the front. Unfortunately my home computer is down and I can’t show a scan of a 1969-70 Topps Basketball Detroit Pistons card, I’m just glad I was able to get it to work last night and post the scan of the Coleman card.

[Cliff Bowman]

Thank you, Mr. Fisk 😊.

[ALR-bishop]

Bob is useful now and then

[steve B]

That's very strange!

For the early printing done from stones they erased them and reused them, but I'm having a hard time seeing how the coated aluminum plates used in the 60's-70's could have been resurfaced or rexposed to make a different plate.

I wonder if they were using old partly printed sheets somewhere in the production process.
Or maybe using a blanket that was so worn the image was still there, worn into it from a previous job?

Or..... just maybe they used old plates for the glosscoat?

(This may now be common as the presses make the plate digitally without needing to mount a new one)

[swarmee]

Very similar error to what happened with Magic: The Gathering card game 20 years ago.
https://www.misprintedmtg.com/peanuts

[butchie_t]

Originally Posted by Cliff Bowman

Here is the 70 Topps Joe Coleman with writing in the sky, I'm guessing it is 'DETROIT', maybe from the Tigers team card. The only reason I knew about this card was that someone listed a PSA 8(?) 1970 Topps Joe Coleman on eBay and described it as a print error and wanted something like $50 for it. I looked for another one cheaper and found this one right away, but it must be rare because I looked through a few hundred 70 Topps Coleman cards on the web very recently and couldn't find another one.

Thanks for the Coleman scan and glad you found the Lopes blue splatter too. Now my quest for the Coleman begins.

[butchie_t]

Originally Posted by Cliff Bowman

Here is the 70 Topps Joe Coleman with writing in the sky, I'm guessing it is 'DETROIT', maybe from the Tigers team card....

Cliff, hats off to you sir. This card is a needle in a haystack. I have been looking since you mentioned it and just do not see it listed anywhere.

Good on you! And I will keep looking too. I may have to be satisfied with a bootleg picture of Joe. :-)

Cheers,

B.T.