1952 High Series question about origins

[Brianruns10]

Yeah, I've always found the whole notion that the high series was exclusive to NY/New England to be pretty dubious too, for the fact that a family friend collected topps and put together a complete 52 set on its original run, and he lived in KC and the Kansas side. Though he made a point of mentioning it was with extreme difficulty, and much hunting...apparently he could only find one store that stocked the highs.

[toppcat]

Originally Posted by Brianruns10

Yeah, I've always found the whole notion that the high series was exclusive to NY/New England to be pretty dubious too, for the fact that a family friend collected topps and put together a complete 52 set on its original run, and he lived in KC and the Kansas side. Though he made a point of mentioning it was with extreme difficulty, and much hunting...apparently he could only find one store that stocked the highs.

I am going to guess it was a Rexall drugstore. I think Topps had a distribution deal either directly with Rexall or a jobber that had a large number of Rexall outlets. They also had a deal with Woolworth's in 1952, although I am not sure if that was only in the NYC area. Most distribution would have been through tobacco jobbers long known to the Shorin family, probably dating back to 1910-14 or so.

The highs took some time to spread westward in '52 and early '53. Some went south but not many I think. They had a deal in place for Canada as well, it was made to cover second (80-130) series forward and the highs would have been part of it. That must have been uncut sheets as shipped as the Canadian packs only should have four cards (typical of Canada at the time) but I am not 100% positive on that last point.

[tedzan]

Originally Posted by toppcat

I am going to guess it was a Rexall drugstore. I think Topps had a distribution deal either directly with Rexall or a jobber that had a large number of Rexall outlets. They also had a deal with Woolworth's in 1952, although I am not sure if that was only in the NYC area. Most distribution would have been through tobacco jobbers long known to the Shorin family, probably dating back to 1910-14 or so.

The highs took some time to spread westward in '52 and early '53. Some went south but not many I think. They had a deal in place for Canada as well, it was made to cover second (80-130) series forward and the highs would have been part of it. That must have been uncut sheets as shipped as the Canadian packs only should have four cards (typical of Canada at the time) but I am not 100% positive on that last point.

Dave

A long time friend of mine, Ralph, who grew up near the Smokey Mountains in North Carolina acquired many 1952 T Hi#'s in late 1952 and early 1953.There was a
Ben Franklin 5 & 10 cent store in his neighborhood that was stocked with many of the Hi#'s. Interesetingly, they didn't have Lo#'s (#1-80) till the Summer of '52.
And, these cards were the 1st series Red Backs.

I grew up in Hillside, NJ and the 1st series BLack Backs were available in the Spring of '52. Hi#'s were plentiful from the corner "drug store/soda fountain" shoppe
were we lived. Here are the 5 cards from the last pack I bought when I was a kid in the Fall of '52.







TED Z

[Brianruns10]

Originally Posted by tedzan

Dave

A long time friend of mine, Ralph, who grew up near the Smokey Mountains in North Carolina acquired many 1952 T Hi#'s in late 1952 and early 1953.There was a
Ben Franklin 5 & 10 cent store in his neighborhood that was stocked with many of the Hi#'s. Interesetingly, they didn't have Lo#'s (#1-80) till the Summer of '52.
And, these cards were the 1st series Red Backs.

I grew up in Hillside, NJ and the 1st series BLack Backs were available in the Spring of '52. Hi#'s were plentiful from the corner "drug store/soda fountain" shoppe
were we lived. Here are the 5 cards from the last pack I bought when I was a kid in the Fall of '52.



TED Z

Ted, nicely done! If there is one regret I have as a collector of Topps 52s, it's that I'm getting into it now, and never had the chance to buy them in the wax pack on their original run. That's a special thing!

You know, with a bit of oral history legwork, talking to baby boomers who collected 52s, I bet we could get a pretty fair idea of where and when the 52 highs were distributed. It's funny, but those details really stick with people. My dad can still clearly remember the names of the stores he went to to buy cards...

[toppcat]

Been there, done that:

http://toppsarchives.blogspot.com/20...rapped-up.html

http://toppsarchives.blogspot.com/20...and-cards.html

http://net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=121143

There is another thread on 52 high distribution here but I can't seem to locate it with the search right now. I think it was in early 2010 though. FWIW I think the 52's highs are far more plentiful than their legend and pricing warrants.