91 Topps Variations

[Pat R]

Originally Posted by CMGsBBCs

These Cello Boxes, I did get all at the same time, and probably sold 4-5 before... (so those people probably got a good surprise, if they know what they're looking for) ...then have just let them sit for years. I hadn't opened one myself until this year, but KNOWING that I've gotten these two variations in ALL 3 BOXES, I'll probably be opening the rest... As, any two "Hand Over" Whiten or Storm Davis w/®, would pay for what I get for a box...

Unfortunately, I don't seem to have boxes with either of the white borders, nor the Boyd black flag tip, nor Joe Morgan 87... which, along with the A*B* backs seem to be some of the toughest.

But did they come from the same case? If they did it's odd that 1 box had both variations, 1 box had only the Whiten and another box only had the Davis because both of them are from the E* sheet.

[CMGsBBCs]

Originally Posted by Pat R

But did they come from the same case? If they did it's odd that 1 box had both variations, 1 box had only the Whiten and another box only had the Davis because both of them are from the E* sheet.

I just know I got them all at one local auction in Western PA in the late 1990s or early 2000's... so I can't say for sure if they were from the same case, as I didn't buy anything sealed... so someone else could have moved things around before... I don't think the individual boxes have any sort of markings to tell if they were from the same case or even factory... but they are the 24 packs per box, 34 cards per pack (no gum), 99c cello.

[Pat R]

Originally Posted by CMGsBBCs

I also assume that the Glow and No-Glow backs were printed separately, whether at a different facility or just at a separate time with the "different" ink... but they were absolutely packaged together, whether in packs or factory sets. The one factory set I opened had both Glow & No-Glow backs (all cards from certain sheets were the same). There must have been some batch system with printing, then perhaps they were cut and/or packed at a different time/faclity and packed with the "other" sheets printed at a separate time/facility.

I think moving the variations to my "Bolds" binder will make the most sense... So much tedious fun ahead switching these cards around... again...

I'm now certain that they were printed seperately and I'm pretty sure it was at a different facility or at least a different location within the same facility.

I can tell with about 40% of the 792 cards if they're glow or no glow backs just by looking at the fronts based on consistent stray recurring print marks.

Here are a few examples and it doesn't matter if they came from an early or late box.

John Franco with a light green spot 24 glow backs all have it 15 no glow backs none have it

91 Topps John Franco glow flaw.jpg

Mike Stanton white dot by circle in topps logo 29 glow backs all have it 10 no glow backs none have it

91 Topps Mike Stanton glow no glow variations.jpg

Alvin Davis light blue slash in right blue border 28 glow backs all have it 14 no glow backs none have it

91 Topps Alvin Davis glow-no glow variation.jpg


also the the #374 Larry Casain that's listed as a variation isn't a true variation the blemishes were never airbrushed out all of the no glow backs have them and none of the glow backs have them.