The Post War Cards Newsletter #24
1950s Topps File Copy Football Cards, Topps' Mickey Mantle Player Files, 1972 Topps Football Wax Boxes, The 1998 National, And An Early Beckett Advertisement
I’ve been considering, researching, and drafting long-form publications about niche hobby topics like salesman samples, the golden era of baseball autograph inserts, and MSA Discs for a while, but I’ve had something else in mind that I’d like your perspective on…
Also, next week’s unopened market report will include a pair of (empty) 1952 Topps wax cases. Yes, there’s more than the one DACardWorld sold a few years ago. Consider upgrading so you can see them both next Monday!
🏈 Late ‘50s Topps Vault File Copy Football Cards
From 1953 to the late 1970s, Woody Gelman led Topps' Product Development Department. It was his practice to store copies of the cards they produced in oversized scrapbooks. They would adhere two copies of each card—one showing the front and one showing the back—on sheets in numerical order. Some folks refer to these items as the "Gelman Catalogs." A lot of the albums from 1953 to 1966 were sold in Guernsey's auction. Later, individual pages of the remaining catalogs were enclosed in holders and certified by a third-party grader as authentic and originating from the one-of-a-kind Topps catalog. Other cards were individually encapsulated.
Last Sunday, ‘roseart’ on eBay sold 32 lots of BVG-graded Topps File Copy football cards; some collectors scored big on a slice of hobby history for very little money.
The majority were from 1958; here’s a run-down:
1957 Topps #33 Bill Howton #1/2 & #2/2; $52.00
1957 Topps #53 Alan Ameche #2/2; $44.00
1957 Topps #59 Kyle Rote #2/2; $44.00
1957 Topps #81 Tobin Rote #1/2; $44.00
1958 Topps #6 Bill Howton #1/2; $7.47
1958 Topps #7 Howard Cassady #1/2; $11.50
1958 Topps #8 Jim Dooley #1/2; $11.50
1958 Topps #15 Andy Robustelli #2/2; $7.50
1958 Topps #23 Zeke Bratkowski #1/2; $15.51
1958 Topps #27 Redskins Team #1/2 & #2/2; $24.47
1958 Topps #29 Bears Team #2/2; $16.29
1958 Topps #30 Alex Webster #1/2 & #2/2; $24.47
1958 Topps #35 Chuck Bednarik #1/2; $29.00
1958 Topps #41 49ers Team #2/2; $14.50
1958 Topps #46 Dale Dodrill #1/2; $8.50
1958 Topps #51 Jack McClairen #1/2; $5.59
1958 Topps #53 Rick Casares #1/2; $12.84
1958 Topps #55 Duane Putnam #1/2; $7.50
1958 Topps #63 Joe Marconi #2/2; $7.47
1958 Topps #64 R.C. Owens #1/2; $10.36
1958 Topps #65 Jimmy Carr #1/2; $8.38
1958 Topps #69 Cardinals Team #1/2; $11.29
1958 Topps #80 Harlon Hill #1/2; $10.51
1958 Topps #84 Charlie Conerly #1/2; $14.39
1958 Topps #94 Tobin Rote #1/2; $5.59
1958 Topps #96 Packers Team #1/2; $14.27
1958 Topps #103 Jim Ringo #2/2; $50.00
1958 Topps #108 Ken Keller #1/2; $5.50
1958 Topps #109 Eagles Team #1/2; $5.50
1958 Topps #113 Gen Brito #2/2; $0.99
1958 Topps #121 Jim Podoley #2/2; $5.50
1966 Topps #90 Verlon Biggs #1/1; $4.25
📝 Topps’ Mickey Mantle Player Files
While we’re talking about Topps’ history, let’s chat about another set of items from Guernsey’s 1989 Topps Auction; one of its most intriguing sections was the Baseball Player Files. These files included contracts, correspondence, and canceled checks, offering a “fascinating microcosm of the nature of this company’s relationship with the players.” And yes, there was a string of items related to Mickey Mantle!
I’d pay to see Mantle’s original Bowman contract for the 1951 baseball season; also, isn’t it interesting that it was signed by Mantle on April 17th, 1951? That may sound late, but Mantle’s card #254 led off the high series of cards that would have come out later in the season. Stay tuned; I’ll soon share a photo of Mantle’s 1958 Contract extension (BB462) on the blog.
PS, there was one more lot on the next page of the catalog, a “letter from Mrs. Merlyn Mantle, on personal stationery, to Sy Berger, requesting a check in lieu of gifts for ‘our contract payment,’ and copy of Sy Berger’s letter of response to ‘Mick,’ dated 5/8/70.”
✍️ Great Hobby Writing
The Chronicles of Fuji: Long Lost Canadian Counterparts
Number 5 Type Collection: 1949-50 World Wide Gum NHL Ice Stars Wrappers #5, Milton "Milt" Schmidt
The Topps Archives: Go West, Young-ish Man
Hobby News Daily: What Topps Gets Right (and Wrong) on Social Media
Nine Pockets: A Smorgasbord! Jiffy Pop Discs
Night Owl Cards: C.A.: 1987 Drake's Darryl Strawberry and Wally Joyner
Sports Collectors Daily: Dimes for Decor: 1972 Topps Baseball Posters
Sports Collectors Daily: 1962 Topps Baseball Stamp of Approval – Part 1
🏈 Unopened Item Of The Week - 1972 Topps Football Wax Boxes
In November 1999, as part of their Millennium Auction, Mastro sold a 1972 Topps Football Wax Box trio, covering all three series, for $6,164.
Want to put that run together today? Well, REA sold a 1st Series BBCE-wrapped wax box for $12k in the Spring of 2024, and in October 2024, Collect Auctions sold a 2nd and 3rd Series BBCE-wrapped wax box for $12k and $22k, respectively, or $46k in total.
That’s quite an increase. Even using the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics Inflation Calculator, $6,164 in November 1999 has the same buying power as $11,634.72 in January 2025.
P.S. Love unopened? Upgrade for the weekly Unopened Market Report!
📝 On The Blog
Feb 28, 2025: The Unique NBA Fines Document Collection Featuring Barkley, Malone, McHale & More
Mar 1, 2025: When the Rose Bowl Moved East: The 1942 Rose Bowl Program And Tickets
Mar 2, 2025: Baseball Cards Magazine Advertised in The Trader Speaks!
Mar 3, 2025: The 1980 Topps Unissued Billy Martin Yankees Team Card
Mar 4, 2025: The Three Original Topps Tall Boy Sets
Mar 5, 2025: Dick Perez’s Original Artwork For The 1989 Donruss Frank Viola Diamond Kings Card
🗓️ Card Show History - The Official Program For The 19th NSCC Show In Chicago In 1998
The 45th National in Chicago may still be five months away, but I can’t help but be excited. Here’s a look at Tuff Stuff’s Official Program from the 19th National Sports Collectors Conference, which was also held in Chicago back in August 1998.
What impressed me about the 1998 show was the autograph guest schedule! They had an overview on the left for each guest listed on the right.
📈 In The Hobby Library - A 1985 Advertisement For Beckett Monthy
Here’s another example of circular marketing between hobby publications. Beckett placed this advertisement for their new Monthly Baseball Card Price Guide in the April 1985 issue of Baseball Cards Magazine. Remember, issue #1 was released by Dr. James Beckett in November 1984.
Happy collecting!