1950's & 60's Topps Card Populations?

[Harliduck]

Was it ever published, or do we know how many of any certain cards Topps produced in the 50's and 60's? For example, totally random, 1966 Topps #47 JC Martin...there are currently around 125 on Ebay for sale...but how many were initially produced? Is that a number we even want to know?

I have to image a huge percentage were thrown away, destroyed, ect...so no way of knowing how many have survived. Clearly the example is not rare and readily available for a buck or two. My thoughts then go to what percentage of Americans collect vintage, how many have that card, could someone hoard that card...etc. If 200 people wanted that card today, would 125 more appear by next week, with thousands in reserve? As a kid, I remember getting a 1959 Jim Perry card in a trade at school. In my 12 year old world in 1982 that card was unbelievably rare and old, it was all about access at that point. Lol.


Anyhow, I literally have zero idea of how many of that example were made (and I understand how cards were SP and DP). Was there 100,000, 1 million, 10 million...??? Has anyone speculated an estimated survival rate? 50%, 40%, 10%???

[Harliduck]

BTW...if this was ever discussed before I couldn't find anything after searching a bit...I know it's annoying to some to discuss topics already discussed...lol

[swarmee]

I know it's been discussed before. There were a couple of articles that quoted Topps executives that at least gave a ballpark.

[ALBB]

I thought I read..like 30 million of each card for sets from the 60s

[sflayank]

About 150 million cards produced each year in the 60s
250000 of each card
Probably 2 to 3 %
6000 of each covering all grades

[rats60]

Originally Posted by sflayank

About 150 million cards produced each year in the 60s
2.5 million of each card
Probably 2/10 or 3/10 of 1% left
6000 of each covering all grades

That would be ~250,000 of each card not 2.5 million.