A (Simple?) Checklist Printing Question
 

Here's the set up:
Looking for some clarification. Say Topps is printing the second series of cards (in an early 1960's set), so these sheets contain the second series checklist and also the 'upcoming' third series checklist. My question is (and my assumption is), were the same number of second and third series checklists (usually) printed on said sheets? In other words, if the sheets contained a total of 264 cards (88 cards times 3), did that mean there were three copies of the 2nd series checklist and three copies of the 3rd series checklist printed, or was there ever a 4/2 split or something like that instead??

No guarantee they'd have the same number of copies. One could be double printed in a series just because of which row they ended up on the sheet.

checklists
 

In all of the sheets I have seen from 1961 to 1968, the checklists from the 88 card sheets were printed in equal numbers. Typically, checklist 1 was double-printed in the series 1 printing but then the series 2 checklist was printed in both the first & 2nd print run (usually twice in run 1, 3x in run 2). Checklist 3 was printed in both print run 2 & 3 (3x in each), checklist 4 was printed 3x in each print run 3 & 4, etc. When it came to series 7, only checklist 7 was printed.

It is possible that in the 77 card series (typically series 5, 6,or 7), one checklist might be in a row that was printed more frequently than the other, but I haven't seen that in any of the sheets, partial sheets, or sheet re-constructions that have been completed.

Thank you. So, in the Series 2 printing, it's highly probable that both the second series and third series checklists were printed 3 times apiece, correct? Have you ever run across a Series 2 sheet set-up that had the split differently, say 4 of one and 2 of the other?

checklists
 

On conventional 88 card print sheets, there are 8 rows of cards printed 3x each across the full 264 card sheet. One slit (half-sheet) should have two checklists of series 2 and one of the series 3, while the second slit would have one of checklist 2 and two of series 3. Same pattern would repeat in the 3rd print run, etc. Here's an image of the two half-slits from 1964 & 1965 (series 3 shown, but same point) to illustrate.

Attachment 419558

Attachment 419559

Attachment 419560

It is possible, of course, that a wrong back could exist on a checklist, caused by an improper feed.