Unopened Topps Baseball Wax Packs

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Posted By: Richard

Greetings, I am just starting to collect Topps Baseball unopened wax packs. I have noticed that GAI grades these packs and slabs them. I am wondering if this company is trustworthy with regards to the authenticity of their graded packs? Would love to hear from any pack collectors out there. There seems to be much interest in vintage unopened Baseball packs. I have noted that many of the vintage packs selling on ebay have quite a lot of interest from collectors. I am reluctant to purchase packs from some of these dealers on the internet that I am not familiar with. Since I am not an expert and do not have much experience checking packs for tampering. I guess you can't go wrong with slabbed graded material. Lets hear a few opinions on this hot area of the hobby. Looking forward to some replies.
Thank You

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Posted By: andy

mark puts out a priceguide that has some lots of info on wax authenticating. what to look for, etc. guides are about $5. email me if you're interested. i think mark and gia have a relationship...not sure of that, but i think he's their unopened "expert".
regards

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Posted By: Albie O'Hanian

Mark Murphy is no longer affiliated with GAI. He used to be their wax pack grading "expert" but he is no longer there.

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Posted By: warshawlaw

that could keep me from opening a vintage pack if it comes into my possession.

Needless to say, I don't have any.

I've seen the GAI product at many local shows here in SOCAL; looks good, I guess, even if my first impulse is to open them right up.

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Posted By: Halleygator

I REALLY, REALLY want to know how long I could hold on to a 1952 Topps wax pack without opening it.

I honestly don't think I could go more than a week ... even if you paid me.

Some things are just too tempting.

Angelina Jolie in a nightie...

A big slab of ribs from Dreamland ...

and an unopened pack of vintage baseball cards!!

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Posted By: dan

GAI is trustworthy, problem is that it is very easy to reseal a pack with a little heat. I bet I can put a pack together at the national and have it graded, any takers? I love grading in general.

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Posted By: warshawlaw

Although I have a sneaking suspicion that it would turn out the same as my submissions of cards I'd cleaned up--slabbed.

BTW, if you want to get altered cards slabbed, the absolute best way to do so is at a show. The graders are in crappy light, out of their normal environment surrounded by chaos, and under especially heavy time pressures. Not that I'd ever do that...

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Posted By: hankron

I second Andy's recommendation that one should look for Mark Murphy's guide. Offers a good overview of the years and types and has practical tips for seeing if a pack has been opened and resealed.

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Posted By: jason

i know there are a few sellers that tamper with wax packs and they have been getting them graded by gai....they are pretty good at determining the fakes...but they are not the true authority...they have graded many resealed packs since there are some good resealers out there.
i do not value gai's opinion on authenticity although i do like their holders.

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Posted By: steve k

Those unopened wax packs certainly are highly interesting. There was a GAI 7.5 1952 Topps unopened wax pack that ended just last week on ebay that a part of me said "BID." It sold for almost 6k. It would be tough not to open it - but after some quick analysis - what are the odds of getting a premium card? Probably very slim. And those commons could possibly only grade out to a PSA 6 or 7 - probably no PSA 8 or 9's in that pack. If that pack was ever dropped and the corners dinged - well you know what that does to the grade. Valuewise, I feel it would be far better to buy five PSA 8 cards than an unopened vintage wax pack - unless of course you hear that 1952 Topps Mantle "calling" you from inside the pack.