Cello Pack Fake?

[roarfrom34]

appears to be a re-packaged pack (similar to those Christmas packs)

[lampertb]

I was just thinking about those Christmas cello packs today, as there are a few cellos for sale on Ebay. What was the deal with all those Christmas packs?

[raulus]

Originally Posted by lampertb

I was just thinking about those Christmas cello packs today, as there are a few cellos for sale on Ebay. What was the deal with all those Christmas packs?

I think some enterprising entrepreneur bought up previously-opened and gently used cards, packaged them together in their own cello pack, stapled a gaudy paper label on top, and sold them to kids at premium outlets like K-Mart during the 80s.

[philliesfan]

The ones that really make me laugh are the ones with the 1950's style header card and 1985 cards. There is a football pack on ebay right now. It looks so out of place like that.
Bob

[savedfrommyspokes]

Originally Posted by raulus

I think some enterprising entrepreneur bought up previously-opened and gently used cards, packaged them together in their own cello pack, stapled a gaudy paper label on top, and sold them to kids at premium outlets like K-Mart during the 80s.

My K-Mart didn't offer anything like this in the 80s...perhaps the 70s.

The most interesting thing about this pack is I see no hole in the packaging to hang on a store's peg hook like regular issued rack packs have. My guess is a fantasy piece.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by savedfrommyspokes

My K-Mart didn't offer anything like this in the 80s...perhaps the 70s.

The most interesting thing about this pack is I see no hole in the packaging to hang on a store's peg hook like regular issued rack packs have. My guess is a fantasy piece.

Maybe growing up in a rural backwater, we were about a decade late on everything, at least at K-Mart.

Agreed that the lack of a hole to hang it on a peg is suspicious.

At the same time, for a fantasy piece, I have to wonder who would bother?!! It’s not like this is a fantasy T206 Wagner or a piece that would scratch an itch for many collectors.

[T.S. OConnell]

Originally Posted by lampertb

I was just thinking about those Christmas cello packs today, as there are a few cellos for sale on Ebay. What was the deal with all those Christmas packs?

There is a lot of misinformation that circulates about those Christmas Racks. They are not uncirculated cards, they were produced around the turn of the century and have been an embarrassment for more than 20 years. They are simply repackaged vintage cards and ought to be sold as such. The blather about some being done later than others etc. is nothing more than that, just blather. It's a scam if the cards are being presented as anything more than what I describe.

[T.S. OConnell]

Originally Posted by T.S. OConnell

There is a lot of misinformation that circulates about those Christmas Racks. They are not uncirculated cards, they were produced around the turn of the century and have been an embarrassment for more than 20 years. They are simply repackaged vintage cards and ought to be sold as such. The blather about some being done later than others etc. is nothing more than that, just blather. It's a scam if the cards are being presented as anything more than what I describe.

I should have added that all the musings about the racks - any of them - ever having been sold at a retail outlet of any description like WalMart, KMart or your local 7-11 is simply nonsense.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by T.S. OConnell

I should have added that all the musings about the racks - any of them - ever having been sold at a retail outlet of any description like WalMart, KMart or your local 7-11 is simply nonsense.

I personally bought the repackaged Christmas packs at KMart in the mid/late 80s. Other than that I know nothing about them.

[ALR-bishop]

Even Murphy who I think was the first to offer them around 2001 or so admitted they were presented to him as just cards repacked by a 3d party, not Topps. Not aware of anyone who has claimed different. The questions I have are who first packaged them, when, whether they were ever sold at retail, and if so when and where ? Blather or not I would like to know.

[T.S. OConnell]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Even Murphy who I think was the first to offer them around 2001 or so admitted they were presented to him as just cards repacked by a 3d party, not Topps. Not aware of anyone who has claimed different. The questions I have are who first packaged them, when, whether they were ever sold at retail, and if so when and where ? Blather or not I would like to know.

I don't believe that any major retailer would offer a product with no clear indication on the packaging of origin, authenticity, etc. I also don't believe the repackaged cards could ever have done at a large-enough scale to tempt such retailers in the first place. I believe that the stories about the cards having been found at retail are part of the "legend" used to afford some additional authenticity to the effort.

[raulus]

Originally Posted by roarfrom34

appears to be a re-packaged pack (similar to those Christmas packs)

^ This.

[BobC]

Originally Posted by roarfrom34

appears to be a re-packaged pack (similar to those Christmas packs)

+1

[ALR-bishop]

Richard---one of many threads in here on the Christmas packs below. It has links to some of the other prior threads




https://www.net54baseball.com/showth...christmas+pack

[irv]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Richard---one of many threads in here on the Christmas packs below. It has links to some of the other prior threads




https://www.net54baseball.com/showth...christmas+pack

Probstein just recently auctioned a couple of those 52 Topps Christmas packs as did one other seller whose name escapes me now.
Both sellers, considering the Christmas packs are not real so to speak, made out pretty well. (Just checked the bay and there are currently 3 of these packs up for sale/auction)

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Richard---one of many threads in here on the Christmas packs below. It has links to some of the other prior threads




https://www.net54baseball.com/showth...christmas+pack

If I ever need a link, I ask Al-R I am not a big fan of cello packs for the reasons mentioned above. I am not sure I could tell the difference between a real cello and a repack anyway.

[GasHouseGang]

I think the fact that they had so many others made me think they probably created them all themselves on a computer.

[NiceDocter]

Waiting on the 1952 Topps High number cello packs before I get excited.....

[ALR-bishop]

Murphy's original Christmas pack "find" did not include any 52s. He offered 53 to 63. The 52s showed up later as did post 63s. Now you can find them up through the 70s and some mixed. For me it would be interesting to know who first created them and when, and if they were really ever sold at retail anywhere

They are obviously still be cranked out today but by the same person or group of persons ? A different person or group ? Or multiple people and groups.

[stlcardsfan]

Originally Posted by NiceDocter

Waiting on the 1952 Topps High number cello packs before I get excited.....

There was a seller on EBay years ago that sold Xmas rack packs. He had a long dissertation about how his were legit. In his “about me” tab he had a 52 rack pack with a Mathews showing on back. Real or not I don’t know. It was not for sale but the ones he did sell went for big $$$$.