Question About 52 Topps Printing.

[Republicaninmass]

Just found this Campos, where the top left of the star is black, I might be able to get a tighter scan, but it is definately there

[con40]

Steve is dead-on regarding the production of the press plates and how an unintended element could print on the wrong plate. Removing unwanted elements on spot printing (like all pre-1992 Topps backs) is as easy as "stoning it off the plate". Often, the pressman will miss bits of the element that is why there could be a few (dozens at most) of a Campos card that shows a bit of the star...

1. Art director sees the extra black star on the card and asks for its removal.
2. Pressman stops the press, stones the star off the black plate, then restarts the press.
3. After running a few sheets, the pressman pulls a sheet to show the AD. The sheet still shows trace bits of the black star.
4. Pressman stops the press again and repeats step 2.
5. Start the press again to pull a clean sheet for approval.

Topps being a frugal company in those days, would likely have kept the error sheets in the print run to make the full sheet count knowing that the error would be corrected in the vast majority of the sheets.

If it happened like in the scenario above, the scarcity might be...

1. Red star only most common
2. Black over red scarce
3. Partial black over red very scarce

Depending on how many times the pressman had to stone the plate, there could multiple versions of Campos with varying degrees of the star visible.

[ALR-bishop]

Thanks to Keith and Steve both

[Republicaninmass]

Thanks again to all of the knowledgeable people on this board!

[Volod]

Yes, fascinating info, indeed. But, does this now mean that a master set is not complete without a Campos with - what - a black line at upper left point of the star, black line at upper right of the star...at what point (pun) does it become silly?

[ALR-bishop]

Print defects, variations, errors and variants of all kinds are endless. I only worry about them once they are listed somewhere like SCD, Beckett or the Registry. With Bob L retired SCD may now be a closed book. Would a grading company recognize a variant in slabbing a card if it did not first have hobby recognition from some source ? I am not a graded guy but would think maybe not

[Republicaninmass]

I personally would ask for it to be labeled "partial black star" if it is any less than 100% visible, I wouldnt think a master set would need to have this included, but if they consider a t205 Matty Hassan back error a variation, anything is possible

[ALR-bishop]

If you use SCD, or Beckett, or the Registry checklist for your master set ( which is what I do) you at least have a finite parameter. If all variants, listed or not, are included in what one considers to constitute a master set, then no master set will ever be complete. It may only matter from a Registry standpoint since for the rest of us we can always define a master set anyway we want

Ted--- I would think if you can get PSA to grade it with some special designation and add it to their Registry checklist, it would not only be part of the definition used by many or most for inclusion in master sets, but also a lot more valuable .

I mentioned that I have a 52 Campos with a portion of the front top border missing, and that card ( not mine) was written up and pictured in an SCD article. Yet it is still not included in any master lists I know about , and for that reason just another oddity without much recognition or value...except to me and whoever has one

[Republicaninmass]

Ther are many throughout the 52 set, as there are other sets. Recently it appears the 52 Frank House Yellow tongue has been going for huge money, however just not being included in a checklist, doesnt mean people dont want it...BUT the registry is a powerful drug!