Hobby history: Card dealers of the early 1960s, part 1: Taylor vs. Gelman

[trdcrdkid]

Here is the last issue of The Card Collector, which I couldn't fit in the post itself because there were too many images.

[bostonmarathonman]

Thanks for all the time and effort you put into these interesting and informative posts David--it is much appreciated and I enjoy reading them!

I just mailed a check to Gordon B. Taylor for all the sets from 52-59. The 52 is a bit pricey at 79 bucks but I decided it might be worth it. Hopefully they ship my order fairly quickly!

[toppcat]

OK, this is really fantastic stuff! I do hope you compile all of this into a book or website someday.

[Sean]

Great stuff. It even includes a young Bill Heitman at age eleven.

[Exhibitman]

I love this. As so many older dealers and collectors pass it is so useful to see what the past generations created. Thanks for posting. I second the motion for a history of collecting book.

[mikemb]

This is great! Thank you.

Can't wait for the next part as that will be the time I started collecting.

Mike

[VoodooChild]

Originally Posted by toppcat

OK, this is really fantastic stuff! I do hope you compile all of this into a book or website someday.

+1

I would definitely buy that book!

[ls7plus]

Fascinating!!! Shows us how incredibly far we have come!

Highest regards,

Larry

[insidethewrapper]

I remember my dad ordering the 1958 Topps Set in 1958 and receiving each series through out the summer. I couldn't wait for the mailman to come each day. I wish I would have received the 1952 Topps Set which is listed for $ 79. But as a 7 year old I didn't even know what a 1952 Topps card looked like.

Did anyone on here ever order the 1952 Topps set for $ 79 or less ?

[chicagoaustin]

I bought the 1958s in wax packs of 6 cards with bubble gum in the Chicago neighborhoods, at ma and pa grocery stores or local Walgreen’s. Those 4 cards, Harrell, Ward, Geiger and Hardy were simply not included in those wax packs—they were the only unmarked cards on my topps series checklist. My friends who collected had the same problem with those four. Later in the year I went to downtown Chicago, to some event with my parents; we went into a downtown Walgreen’s, and they were selling cello packs of 10 cards, fifth series, no bubble gum, where you could see the top and bottom card. I instantly saw all four rare cards on the tops and bottoms of several of these packs, so I bought three packs—enough to insure I got one of each, I got two of each except Ward. So I would conclude, whatever the actual volume of those four cards was in relation to others in the same series, the distribution of those four cards was not consistent in wax packs, where all cards in a series can ordinarily be expected to be found in roughly equal numbers.

The first four series of topps 1958 were actually issued in groups of 110, so the first four "series" covered 1-440. The fifth series was exactly half that, 55 cards, from 441 to 495. You’d think Topps could have used the ordinary 110 card sheet to print the fifth series in duplicate, without creating any short prints, so the reason for those four short prints is still a mystery to me.

[samosa4u]

Originally Posted by insidethewrapper

Did anyone on here ever order the 1952 Topps set for $ 79 or less ?

No, but I did order thirty Mantles for fifty cents each! I still own them all today!

[BCD]

Is David Festberg?!
😏

[jsq]

david nice articles and research. thank you for the effort.

since you are from chi town you probably know jim zak, jim was a fixture at chi town card shows through the 80's and at least into the 90's.

jim was a real nice person, don't know what he is up to know but i wish him all the best. also his connection with gelman is something jim did not discuss much.

it sounds like jim zak, as a true hobby pioneer, would be a fantastic interview subject. in the 90's i think he was living in berwyn. has anyone ever done an interview with jim zak??

[Moyni]

I am so impressed by this. Great job OP!!

[brianp-beme]

David these articles are a fantastic look at the history of the development of the hobby. Thanks, and keep up the good work!

Many decades ago my much older brother gifted me either the 1962 or 1963 Card Collector's catalog, the only bit of hobby ephemera that he had saved, and which I still have buried somewhere. I always found it fascinating to ponder what my brother could have ordered (I don't believe he ever did any mail ordering), and now can place it within the history of the hobby dealer, thanks to your postings.

Thanks again, and looking forward to the next salvo...

Brian