1952 TOPPS Hi #'s mixed in with 1953 TOPPS 1st Series cards.....True or False ?

[parkerj33]

Originally Posted by tedzan

Thanks John for chiming in with your extensive knowledge.

You have confirmed what my old time buddy, Ralph, from the Smoky Mountains (NC) told me many years ago regarding TOPPS intermixing '52T Hi #'s in wax-packs containing
their 1st series 1953 cards in the Spring of 1953.

Looking forward to seeing you at the National next month.



TED Z

T206 Reference
.

Ted, it wasn't clear to me in John's post whether his friend that bought 53s with 52s in western canada actually had them in blue 53 was packs or if they were a repacked cellophane deal done by some distributor. Its a subtle nuance, and I am understanding your contention that your friend ralph DID find blue 53 waxers with the 52 hi# in them.

- jp

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by parkerj33

Ted, it wasn't clear to me in John's post whether his friend that bought 53s with 52s in western canada actually had them in blue 53 was packs or if they were a repacked cellophane deal done by some distributor. Its a subtle nuance, and I am understanding your contention that your friend ralph DID find blue 53 waxers with the 52 hi# in them.

- jp

Hi Jim

I just reviewed John's post, and I know what you are asking. I will email John for more information regarding this.

My conversation (52/53 TOPPS) with my friend Ralph was 40 years ago. Ralph passed away 8 years ago, otherwise
I would have contacted him regarding whether he was pulling cards from wax-packs or the cellophane packs.


TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[Lorewalker]

Hi Ted,

No personal experience of opening 53s and pulling 52s but I did find this post below very interesting as well as the two comments.

Seems like Topps used a blue and red wrapper for high numbers for 1952 and then made a few changes and used them for 1953 5 cent packs. Certainly would seem possible that 52 highs could have been included in the early series for 53 given the wrapper tie between the two years.

http://www.thetoppsarchives.com/2010...rapped-up.html

Chase

[tedzan]

Thanks to all who have participated with their inputs on this topic.

Originally Posted by Lorewalker

Hi Ted,

No personal experience of opening 53s and pulling 52s but I did find this post below very interesting as well as the two comments.

Seems like Topps used a blue and red wrapper for high numbers for 1952 and then made a few changes and used them for 1953 5 cent packs. Certainly would seem possible that 52 highs could have been included in the early series for 53 given the wrapper tie between the two years.

Chase

Chase

It's my understanding that most areas in the Pacific coast and Northwest did not get 1952 Hi #'s in the Fall of 1952. In fact, some areas out your way in California
only got the 1st series (cards #1-80) in the Spring/Summer of 1952.


TED Z

T206 Reference
.

[toppcat]

Not definitive, but the 1953 wrappers greatly resembled the 1952 high number wrappers as both had red and blue color schemes. A possible source for the 52/53 mixed pack stories.

http://www.thetoppsarchives.com/2013...is-not-53.html

EDIT-I see this link was posted already.

[steve B]

It sounds like a very topps thing to do.

On the other hand, western Canada?
in 78 we took a trip across the country driving and mostly camping. In the Canadian part of Glacier park, they had cards! 1977 OPC... I commented on how it was cool to get the previous years cards, and the clerk was confused.
"Last years? But they just came in a couple days ago"

So I have no problem thinking that Topps sold mixed packs in 53 and /or that they were just getting around to sending the 52s to the western Canada distributor.

[Seven]

This thread has been a fascinating read so far. To my knowledge (which is amateur at best, compared to some of the minds in this thread) weren't there an overwhelming amount of 1952 Topps, left over? I could easily see the scenario that Ted outlined originally happening. Topps was in it's infancy, thye might have viewed it as a way to cut some of their inventory.

Eagerly waiting to see if any more stories trickle in. I agree with David, you gentlemen should definitely write a book!

- James

[toppcat]

Originally Posted by steve B

It sounds like a very topps thing to do.

On the other hand, western Canada?
in 78 we took a trip across the country driving and mostly camping. In the Canadian part of Glacier park, they had cards! 1977 OPC... I commented on how it was cool to get the previous years cards, and the clerk was confused.
"Last years? But they just came in a couple days ago"

So I have no problem thinking that Topps sold mixed packs in 53 and /or that they were just getting around to sending the 52s to the western Canada distributor.

There's definite Northern US/Southern Canadian bleed through with early Topps sets, even back to 1949's X-Ray Roundup. Some legit, some probably "black market" sales.

I lean against mixed packs simply for marketing and contractual concerns but as I have learned with Topps, you never know, and even if you do, you don't.