Errors & Variation Discoveries Thread

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Posted By: Elm

I'm a bit annoyed with the seemingly endless stream of "newly discovered" variations on ebay. Actually, "annoyed" isn't the right word, because it's easy to ignore these snake oil salesmen. As a long time collector I absolutely adore finding variations, but what these people are offering are simple printing anomalies. Usually they're just broken borders or color variations and what not. The sort of thing that always happens in large print runs. I've worked with printers for the last 15 years and plates wear out, colors bleed or run low, etc.

To me a true variation is when Topps, for example, went back and actually changed something for an ensuing print run. The 1962 "green tints" are a good example, because Topps recropped the pictures. That's a variation.
When some stray color appears in the background of a card and forms a shape that is apparently 'airbrushed' out later is not a true variation. Simply put, Topps didn't airbrush anything out. Most likely, some extra ink pooled on one or more plates and appeared on the card. Some or all of the 'airbrushed' versions would've actually appeared first in this scenario, when the plates were pristine.

With others, like the 1971 Northrup card, Topps clearly went in and removed the large scratchy anomaly out. You can tell, because it's not a random shape created by ink. It had to have been originally on the black plate.

Anyway, I'm starting to ramble. I just want people to post pics or comments on any variations they may have found. I especially enjoy looking through known variations, such as the 1973 manager cards, because more versions seem to come to light. My favorite is the second orange version of the #257 Yogi Berra card. You can see a little bit of Yost's hat brim sticking out in the recropped photo. Also, in the 1969 airbrushed cards of Popovich and Perranoski, there are at least 3 versions of each. With the former, you have the 'C' showing through the black area on the cap as well as one version with jagged edges and one with very smooth edges to the black area. With the latter you actually have both a large and small version of the blacked out area (in addition to the letters showing through).

The 1971 Boots Day with the stanchion airbrushed out is a great variation that came to light not that long ago. I've actually found a completely new 1971 checklist variation, too, that hasn't been listed anywhere. And I know a few other variations that I can't seem to get my hands on yet.

People may already know of all of what I just mentioned, but I like this topic. Anyone discover any unlisted variations?

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Posted By: Al

I agree in general with your definition of a true variation....other examples are the 59 Spahn DOBs and the 59 trade/option, no trade/option cards. But, two of the most famous "varitions", the 58 Herrer and the 57 Bakep, are, by that definition "just" printing errors. And the 58 Yellows and the 69 whites....errors/printing defects or variations ? And what about the 5 versions of the 55 Sullivan (106) and the three of Elliot (137)...print defects or variations ? SCD list a " variation" of card 273 in the 1973 set ( Williams). It is a broken gap. Hundreds of broken gap cards now show up on e bay involving vitualy every Topps issue.

It is true a lot of stuff showing up on ebay now is a stretch, but I find them all interesting anyway

[Archive]

Posted By: Elm

Here's a good example of what I'm talking about:
http://cgi.ebay.com/1991-Topps-Mike-Scott-Unlisted-Error-Variation_W0QQitemZ230235539612QQihZ013QQcategoryZ 55934QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

I would bet that virtually every single one of his auctions for "unlisted variations" is the same type of basic printing anomaly. If you have multiples of any card from any year, chances are you will find all sorts of things like this--colors missing or 'blobs' or what not.

The 1958 yellow/white cards and the 1969 WL cards are definitely, by definition, variations. Topps had to go in and change the plates to make the correct colors appear in later runs.

I agree with you on the 1958 "Herrer," etc. They are very interesting and rare, but still not true variations in my book. Very desirable just the same. I wish there was a whole separate category for such cards.

Edited to add (and to fix link problems):
"And what about the 5 versions of the 55 Sullivan (106) and the three of Elliot (137)...print defects or variations? SCD list a " variation" of card 273 in the 1973 set ( Williams). It is a broken gap. Hundreds of broken gap cards now show up on e bay involving vitualy every Topps issue."

I'm unfamiliar with the first two, because I don't collect that year, but man are you right about the broken gap cards. They are sprouting up all over the place. It's a result of simple print anomalies, usually a problem on the black plates. Again, Topps didn't do anything to make them into true variations. IMO, none of them should be listed as separate variations.