1952-1960s Topps back variations
 

Collectors seem to collect all types of variations...print variations, image variations, DP print variations, back variations, etc. For me, the back variations are very intriguing.....while some back variations are no more than unintentional print variations or corrected information on the back, many more issues have "intentional" recurring factory variations due to changes in printing or changes in card stock used to print the cards on. I have been working my way through these different recurring factory print variations/use of different printing stock and wanted to see if I am missing any.

This list does not include print variations/corrections like the 57 Bakep, 61 Fairly, 66 Uecker, 67 Belinsky, etc.

Here is what I am working on:

1952 Topps: #s 1-80 Red/black backs, grey backs
1953 Topps: white/black printed bios #s 86-165 + #s 10, 44, 61, 72, 81
1954 Topps: #s 1-50 grey back
1956 Topps: WB/GB #s 1-180
1959 Topps: WB/GB #s 199-286
1960 Topps: WB/GB/Pure White #s 375-440
1963 Topps: lower series with goldenrod back
1966 Topps: bright backs from 6th series (also seen on 66 Topps FB cards)
1968 Topps: Goldenrod backs (MB win a card game cards x88)

Again, this list in not intended to include all of the one off back variations, but recurring variations due to different printing stock or print on the backs.

Higher series 68s have different colored backs than lower Series cards, more like MB coloring , which is why you see some sellers offering them, including the Mantle, incorrectly as MB cards

Howdy from American Samoa. Came here from Bora Bora. Fiji next. Then New Zealand and Australia 😁

Can someone please provide more information on the 1963 Topps goldenrod backs and the 1966 Topps bright backs? I am unfamiliar with either variation.

The 66 bright backs are very obvious in hand. Topps printed the FB set that year on the two sheets (bright/dull) in addition to this one series of baseball...likely printed around the same time(?).

Here is an old thread about the 66s:

http://www.net54baseball.com/showthread.php?t=165394

While it may be tough to tell in the scans, there is a noticeable difference in hand visually and by feel. The bright is on the left with the 66s.


The 63s are a little tougher to spot via scans, but in hand they are discernible. The goldenrod/brigher/less dull is on the bottom.

Good call Al...very similar to the lower numbered 63s. Enjoy your travels.

that 66 difference exists all the way through to 1970.

Steve B

I love those bright 66 backs. I've always called them "pink backs".

For the 1966 Topps, there is 'bright' back differences in other series as well, due to the different card stock (grey vs white). At least for the first series, if not others (I don't have the energy to verify right now). I separated these card fronts a couple weeks back to prove the color difference on the back isn't from fading.

They get no love as white vs grey/cream variations. *sigh* :D