1952 Christmas Rack Pack with Mantle

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

Steve-- as noted above I tried to delve into these some to see if there was notable difference in what one could find in the "original" Murphy pack "find" and the current ongoing productions. Some folks say you tell the originals by staple or packaging type, but usually those are folks selling them.

I think the origin of these is an interesting hobby story but I have never been able to confirm that the originals were actually packaged back in the 60s and 70s as some claim ( which would make it more likely unseen cards might have some values, albeit in non mint condition) . But they showed up in 2001, where were they before that ? Murphy said he bought them through a 3d party he would not name, that they were repackaged by a 3d party he would not or could not name, and sold at retail at stores no one can recall.

If someone has first hand knowledge of these actually being sold in retail stores back in the day, I would love to hear about it. My interest in them is not about value but their actual origin

I remember buying some Xmas packs that look like the ones in this thread back in the late 80's, can't remember exact year. I also can't remember what year cards they held. I do remember buying them at Kmart. About a year ago I found one of those old empty Xmas packs that still had the Kmart price sticker on it. Unfortunately I burned it along with over 100K junk era cards.

[ALR-bishop]

Thanks Ben. ...for burning the evidence

Do you remember if it was late or early 80s and what city ?

[David W]

Originally Posted by bnorth

I remember buying some Xmas packs that look like the ones in this thread back in the late 80's, can't remember exact year. I also can't remember what year cards they held. I do remember buying them at Kmart. About a year ago I found one of those old empty Xmas packs that still had the Kmart price sticker on it. Unfortunately I burned it along with over 100K junk era cards.

I recall going to the Kmart in Peoria, Illinois in the summer, in the late 70's I would assume, and they had a big table by the checkouts with some sort of packaging similar to these Christmas packs of all sorts of Topps cards. I bought a handful for probably 25 cents or something, and opened them. Most were 75 Topps, I got a Gibson record breaker, and they also contained some football cards and non sports cards.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by David W

I recall going to the Kmart in Peoria, Illinois in the summer, in the late 70's I would assume, and they had a big table by the checkouts with some sort of packaging similar to these Christmas packs of all sorts of Topps cards. I bought a handful for probably 25 cents or something, and opened them. Most were 75 Topps, I got a Gibson record breaker, and they also contained some football cards and non sports cards.

We had those here in the late 80's but they did not have the Xmas packaging. They did have them on tables lined up right before you went through the check out lanes. When they did not have tons of them for sale there was one display in the check out isle beside the customer service desk.

[Snapolit1]

I have to confess that if I saw them at goodwill for a few bucks I'd buy everyone they had. Maybe a losing lottery ticket but who knows.

Other than second and third and fourth hand knowledge, has anyone every bought one and taken it apart? After 500 posts on the subject over the years I still don't know if anyone knows

a. are they all 100% counterfeit cards

b. are they just repacked real cards and essentially fake retro items but in crappy shape

c. or some mixture of fakes (rarer) and real (cheapos)

Maybe I've missed it but I still have never seen that simple question definitively answered.

[Republicaninmass]

I got smoked an a 56 rack a while back before there was more info in them. It had an Aparicio RC on top that graded a 7. The rest were ex commons.

[steve B]

I bought a 58, haven't opened it. The cards showing are all real, and look pretty good as far as corners go. But have typical centering issues. There is a high number on the back, so it's not entirely junk.

Looking at the ones on Ebay, there's a few different types of packaging. I'd expect worse stuff from some of them, although I'd have to really study them to figure out which are fakes of the old repacks.

[ALR-bishop]

I have been told the answer lies in the staples

[Volod]

Originally Posted by ALR-bishop

I have been told the answer lies in the staples

Wha..., steel versus aluminum?

[kvnkvnkvn]

Originally Posted by Republicaninmass

I got smoked an a 56 rack a while back before there was more info in them. It had an Aparicio RC on top that graded a 7. The rest were ex commons.

So, just to be sure, all the cards were authentic though, right?

[Republicaninmass]

Originally Posted by kvnkvnkvn

So, just to be sure, all the cards were authentic though, right?

Yes all were authentic.

[SMPEP]

I have a 1961 one. I assume it's fake because when I purchased it - the guy "threw one in for free". (Total move to get a sucker to keep coming back I decided).

I sold the one I bought (broken even) and have the other one still.

Can't decide whether to open it or just sell it for whatever I can get on Ebay and take a profit .

So the analysis is opening it worth $75-100 on the off chance it is "real" (at least came from the 1960s/early 1970s)? Never been able to convince myself to open or sell it - so it just sits in a box!

Cheers,
Patrick

[CW]

Originally Posted by Snapolit1

I have to confess that if I saw them at goodwill for a few bucks I'd buy everyone they had. Maybe a losing lottery ticket but who knows.

Other than second and third and fourth hand knowledge, has anyone every bought one and taken it apart? After 500 posts on the subject over the years I still don't know if anyone knows

a. are they all 100% counterfeit cards

b. are they just repacked real cards and essentially fake retro items but in crappy shape

c. or some mixture of fakes (rarer) and real (cheapos)

Maybe I've missed it but I still have never seen that simple question definitively answered.

You'll find a few videos on Youtube where collectors open some of these up.

Here's a 1958 rack pack being opened:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5-NpONNnjR8

1967 pack:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5yfrK0x1tq0

This guy doesn't open any, but claims to have about 100 1952 pack and about 1,000 Christmas rack packs in all.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ya3m0P4TbN8

[ALR-bishop]

CW-- no red dots on the 67 Mantle.

We needed a sample of the staples to carbon date it

Ben --- pretty sure the Puhl is there, better open it

He should not have made so many cuts, makes it harder to reseal