1952 Topps Question
 

So, a while back I began to slowly embark on a dream project...to try and complete an entire 1952 Topps set (Red back). I'm fairly young and have a decent job...I figure in half a lifetime or so I might be able to do it.

I am also trying to learn as much as I can about this set. I have picked up a few commons and I noticed a few of the backs have a much more "white stock" look to them. Was this a feature of one of the series' of this set or what?

White stock back:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...ps3437c9a6.jpg

Dark stock:
http://i17.photobucket.com/albums/b9...ps30c4925c.jpg

Series 1 cards 1-80 are found with red or black

series 3 cards 131-190 most commonly found with cream backs

Best of luck with the set and feel free to Pm with any questions.


I have many 52's duplicates, and need a lot of 52's as well!

I knew series one had both red and black backs. My understanding is, the first cards printed had black backs but for reasons I don't know they switched to the red. From what I have seen, the red backs appear to be printed a bit better and I like the idea of building a consistent set...so I decided to do red only.

I didn't know series 3 had these cream backs. I assume that's what I am seeing. Is the whole third series commonly cream backs (with some rare stock changes) or are some cards in the series not found with cream backs?

Cards 131-190 can be found with gray backs and are thought to have been issued in Canada. VERY tough and pricey.....

It's a great set. I decided to do 1-80 in both black and red and up to 310 for now. I'm down to 7 to have 1-310 and another 31 or so to have both versions of 1-80. I'm doing raw VGEX or so with some better ones and some of the stars PSA-graded.

Good luck and welcome to the club! I am also slowly building a 1952 set. Like Tom, I am planning to complete the low # set (1-310). This is a great set that you will enjoy building. Keep us updated.

The red and the black
 

My guess is that, early in '52, one of the Shorins was walking through the printing plant and passed pallets filled with thousands of gallons of red ink left over from the 1951 sets, and screamed, "What the eff are we buying so much black ink for?":D