1979 Topps "Faceless" error
 

So the question is does this seller really believe this was how this card came from the factory and not realize that someone did this in the after market, or is this person just hoping the buyer believes this?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/391853850463?ul_noapp=true

https://i.ebayimg.com/images/g/7fQAA...L6R/s-l500.jpg

I bet this was a swarm of the bugs that got the 59 Brandt card in the Variations thread

That card is actually kind of neat. A full set of these might be perfect for Ben....

Z

Ben would know that this was erased by someone after the fact. There is no way to print like this on accident.

Not in '79 anyway. I suppose today there could be some sort of mix-up involving face recognition software.

Hey, I knew Don Hood. That isn't faceless. That is what he actually looked like.

It can go with the Damon Berryhill faceless card and Willie Burton no team on jersey cards

Very rare and very valuable I am sure.

Is the Berryhill card both faceless and aqueousless ?

Yes and a steal at $49.95 with the Burton card thrown in.

It could* happen, something getting stuck to the paper then coming off would do it. But to have it affect a particular spot so exactly would be nearly impossible unless it was deliberate.

*Could in this case being a sort of scientific could. meaning it's technically possible no matter how incredibly unlikely. Like aliens could be responsible for ufo reports that coincide with the flight path of the Goodyear blimp. :D
Or I could potentially score a touchdown in the NFL. (Unlikely due to age, slowness, lack of nearly any conditioning at all, and a number of other reasons. )

Steve B

That looks like someone painted that on the card. Way too white to be ink removal.

Its kind of an intriguing card, but in reality it's impossible to print a card like that in 1979 (as an error during actual print production)..The guy selling that card was never a printer that's for sure..or understands the process to 4 colour lithographic printing...But a 1 off card like that is next to impossible to do...Even if the pressmen were drunk at the time..You never know there may actually be someone out there who believes its the "real deal"...

hmmmm....in 79 I was 10 years old and had literally thousands of 1979 Topps Baseball cards...don't remember the faceless Don Hood card. I did come across a few of them the other day cleaning out the garage.

Maybe I should put my 1/1 1979 Topps Gary Carter on Ebay...he's holding a flail instead of a bat...$199 seems like a real steal compared to the Faceless Hood...

....

Actually it's four color press. things basically don't stick to the paper, they stick to the printing plates. It would have other colors in it.

Ever have a piece of tape get into the paper stack? Or sweat on a sheet on a very hot day? Or cellophane, or powder, or ..........

LOTS of stuff can get on the paper at various points in the process. Yes, it's usually spotted and removed as defective, or comes off after one color.

And no, I don't think the card is anything but erased.


Steve B

I 100% disagree, that is rattle can white paint over the face. No way that card looks like that from ink removal in my amateur opinion.

A fun fact. There is no white ink on a baseball card. All the white you see is the white card stock the other 4 colors are printed on. I have been amazed over the years how many advanced collectors thought the white on cards was printed on them.

EDIT: I messaged the seller and asked if it was semi gloss or flat white paint. If they respond I will let everyone know what type of paint it is.:)

If my face was missing I might Don a Hood as well.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

I wonder how much I can get for my copy....the corners are much sharper on my copy.


Edited to add: note to self: must remember to crop out the eraser from the picture of my wanna be variation card, or just scan next time.

Awesome card Larry, is it for sale?;)

Seller got back to me on the original card and said it is semi gloss like the rest of the card. Still says it was factory done. TO me semi gloss means it is paint. The eraser leaves a dull finish unless reglossed.

Man, if it's rattlecan, that's a load of masking work:) . I guess not too bad with the new blue stuff, but still way more work than an eraser.

What would be really funny would be a card erased by the press operator before the glosscoat went on. Maybe a guy mad about the Bump Wills error hype getting back at the hobby.

And just how the heck would we classify a card produced as a prank, not a true variation, but factory? The 81 fleer hand/finger variations which I believe are mischief more than anything else affected a bunch of cards because the plate was probably modified, but a bit of foolery on one card out of millions?

Steve B

Actually it is really easy to mask off and use a rattle can. I do it all the time when I make superfractors. I print the image reversed on clear acetate. Then mask off the part I dont want to refract and paint it white. Then assemble the layers.

Been messaging with this seller. The replies are priceless. Here is the latest. I sent the seller a picture of savedfrommyspokes awesome version.

The one you just send looks NOTHING like this one. You almost HAVE to see it in person.and why is it "basically impossible" for Topps in 1979 to have factory error? They still make them in 2017!

He is having a limited time price reduction :)

I will admit at $79.99 now that is a huge price reduction. Now if they reduce it to $1.99 with free shipping I would buy it just to see how they altered it.:D