1975 Topps Mini vs regular - what's going on?

[Great Winfield]

As others have noted, the 1975 Topps Minis used to sell at considerable premiums to the regular cards. This made sense due to relative scarcity, but it was said that a trove of unopened packs tilted the relative pricing balance in favor of the regular cards.

Yet, the Minis still seem to be much scarcer with 101K total cards graded by PSA versus 284K for the regulars. The most desirable cards in the sets are also much rarer in Mini form - e.g. George Brett has 2749 PSA 8, 306 9's and 10 10's in regular form versus 897 8's, 157 9's and 8 10's in Mini form. But Mini Brett can be had much cheaper than regular-sized Brett.

So why does the Mini discount remain? Might Minis ever command a premium to the regular 1975 cards again?

[UKCardGuy]

As I'm working on the 75T mini set, I'm kind of happy about the available bargains.

I'm not sure it make sense other than the market can be a fickle place. I hadn't heard about the trove of unopened packs. If that really is the case shouldn't we have seen a spike in PSA 9 and 10s for the minis?

[ALR-bishop]

Lot of ardent Mini collectors involved in this thread over the years


https://forums.collectors.com/discus...ps-mini-thread

[Harliduck]

I've mentioned this before, but growing up in Western Washington all we had were the mini's...so much so that when I was in my late teens, in the late 80's, I saw my first regular sized 75 at a show and I didn't even know they made them that size! Fast forward to now and I prefer the regular size as they seem like the novelty to me. My set is regular, and I have a few mini's along side them, but have no desire to compete that set. As a kid we hated the 75s, they just didn't conform to our other cards.

Being in the north of WA, near Canada, we also had OpeeChee cards mixed into our youth collections. We all HATED Opeechee and the mini's when it came time to trade...I even threw any OP's in the garbage...lol. Still not a fan...

After all that, no idea why the mini's are now cheaper other than someone who grew up with them would rather have the regulars...

[Kutcher55]

I'm a huge fan of the minis. They are cool and I would much prefer a mini set over a regular '75 topps set, although I think in either form the set is a major boondoggle with a host of challenges, from corner/edge issues more pronounced due to the color, to diamond cuts, to the terrible surface integrity, with bubbles and veins and you name it.

I suspect this has already been discussed because everything vintage has pretty much been covered on net54 over the years, but the other day I was looking at my minis and I believe based on the dimensions they are slightly more squat than regular topps cards.

Regular cards at 2.5" x 3.5" which means the width is approximately 71.4% of the length whereas minis are 2.25" x 3.125", which puts the width at 72% of the length. Apologies in advance if I have this wrong...

[JollyElm]

We never laid eyes on any minis in New York, but out here in Cali the shows are rife with them. It was cool because they were new to me.

As the saying goes, every thread needs a card(s)...

1975minibrett228psa9oc.jpg1975minicarter620psa9oc.jpg

[UKCardGuy]

On a slightly different note, are there smaller penny sleeves for minis? I'd kind of like to have a set of minis in mini-sleeves and mini-toploaders. (it just appeals to my sense of proportion. )

[D. Bergin]

Originally Posted by UKCardGuy

As I'm working on the 75T mini set, I'm kind of happy about the available bargains.

I'm not sure it make sense other than the market can be a fickle place. I hadn't heard about the trove of unopened packs. If that really is the case shouldn't we have seen a spike in PSA 9 and 10s for the minis?

That find of unopened Mini packs has to be 25+ years ago now. For years the standard asking price for those packs was 50 bucks each, and certainly less if you bulk bought from the dealers lucky enough to get their hands on them.

Full boxes could probably be had for around a grand or so.

Mini's certainly sold for more then the regulars back in the day, before the find..............but yeah, slowly swung in the other direction afterwards. I would think by now, that find would be irrelevant, as they've been long ago absorbed into the market.

I loved them. Never saw singles when I was a kid in CT. Thought it was strange it was the only full set that Topps attempted that with.

[steve B]

I had some I got in packs in 75. I lived in western Mass, a place they weren't known to be issued. One of the local places probably had a NY state supplier, or something.

I didn't know what they were until I moved to a place with a card store in 77.

I think they're one of the cooler sets from the 70's,

[rats60]

We didn't get them where I lived in California at the time (Ventura). I don't know if they just were in the Bay Area or our wholesaler chose to buy the regular cards and not the minis. I bought a set from Card Collectors Co. I always liked them.

[RCMcKenzie]

1975 Topps minis were something I heard about and saw in the early 80's at card shows. We only had the regular sized ones at the Stop n Go. It's fun to see
these still looking pack fresh even today. Here's a regular-sized issue Fahey, his rookie I think, in high grade for $22.50. Platinum Night, here I come.