1991 Topps Double Front (Glossy/Matte)

[bn2cardz]

The card shown above is a single card. It shows each side of the same card.

The glossy side looks the same as the front of any 1991 Topps card, but when flipped over there aren't any stats it is instead a picture of the other player. This second side I refer to the matte side, but it is a similar feel as a typical back of a 1991 Topps card.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by bn2cardz

The card shown above is a single card. It shows each side of the same card.

The glossy side looks the same as the front of any 1991 Topps card, but when flipped over there aren't any stats it is instead a picture of the other player. This second side I refer to the matte side, but it is a similar feel as a typical back of a 1991 Topps card.

I have never seen one but would guess the back side looks to be "matte" because of the porous card backs. Just like printing on photo paper compared to regular paper.

[bn2cardz]

Originally Posted by bnorth

I have never seen one but would guess the back side looks to be "matte" because of the porous card backs. Just like printing on photo paper compared to regular paper.

Correct, I only describe it as matte to state that the glossy finish has not been applied. That it is dull and flat.


My question is really if there are other double sided (picture of the player on each side) 1991 Topps out there. I am sorry if my use of the word matte confused anybody. I just wanted to point out that the finishing of a typical front was not used on the second side.

[ALR-bishop]

I picked up a couple of the 85s as a curiousity but had not seen a 91

[Rookiemonster]

Originally Posted by bn2cardz

Correct, I only describe it as matte to state that the glossy finish has not been applied. That it is dull and flat.


My question is really if there are other double sided (picture of the player on each side) 1991 Topps out there. I am sorry if my use of the word matte confused anybody. I just wanted to point out that the finishing of a typical front was not used on the second side.

I would assume that other exist . Only because I doubt there's one lol. It's more likely that atleast on sheet was produced.did you pull this card ?

[bn2cardz]

Originally Posted by Rookiemonster

I would assume that other exist . Only because I doubt there's one lol. It's more likely that atleast on sheet was produced.did you pull this card ?

Just because they were produced doesn't mean they are in circulation today. This card came from a woman that sells a lot of error/scrap/test cards that her, now deceased, husband obtained from an employee of topps back when they were produced.

She states he would buy the employee beer and he would bring things to him that was meant to go to the dumpster. It is possible she will run across more, but she is still sorting through his cards. I do have reason to believe it is possible that not all the cards she thinks he obtained this way were actually obtained in this manner (though most probably were).

I was curious, though, if outside of this widows old collection if there were more out there.


I actually have obtained other neat items from her and just had stashed this with that collection. When I saw the thread about the 1991 Topps Oil Can Boyd variation I thought that with such a following by some for this set that maybe someone has seen other cards that were similar.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by bn2cardz

Just because they were produced doesn't mean they are in circulation today. This card came from a woman that sells a lot of error/scrap/test cards that her, now deceased, husband obtained from an employee of topps back when they were produced.

She states he would buy the employee beer and he would bring things to him that was meant to go to the dumpster. It is possible she will run across more, but she is still sorting through his cards. I do have reason to believe it is possible that not all the cards she thinks he obtained this way were actually obtained in this manner (though most probably were).

I was curious, though, if outside of this widows old collection if there were more out there.


I actually have obtained other neat items from her and just had stashed this with that collection. When I saw the thread about the 1991 Topps Oil Can Boyd variation I thought that with such a following by some for this set that maybe someone has seen other cards that were similar.

Most of the really rare error stuff made it into the market just like you described. An employee stole it and sold it for extra $ or free beer. Topps also gave a lot of error sheets away to big costumers and has since the 80's that I know of. I have personally got many cards that way and know of other collectors that have done the same.

[Rich Klein]

I would love to see LexCat chip into this convo

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by bn2cardz

Just because they were produced doesn't mean they are in circulation today. This card came from a woman that sells a lot of error/scrap/test cards that her, now deceased, husband obtained from an employee of topps back when they were produced.

She states he would buy the employee beer and he would bring things to him that was meant to go to the dumpster. It is possible she will run across more, but she is still sorting through his cards. I do have reason to believe it is possible that not all the cards she thinks he obtained this way were actually obtained in this manner (though most probably were).

I was curious, though, if outside of this widows old collection if there were more out there.


I actually have obtained other neat items from her and just had stashed this with that collection. When I saw the thread about the 1991 Topps Oil Can Boyd variation I thought that with such a following by sopme for this set that maybe someone has seen other cards that were similar.

I think this fits with a lot of what was going on at Topps at the time. I think the 1991 Topps sets will be viewed as one of the seminal sets regarding experimentation with production/distribution/marketing for sets of the modern era. I believe the 1991 set marks a year when Topps was experimenting with a number of items regarding new production methods....experimenting with both cello and wax distribution methods (packs can be found in both wax and cello)......dispensing of the bubble gum...printing fronts on the new clay coated shiny paper fronts (over chipboard stock)....using UV brighteners in the red ink (see previous 1991 Desert Shield discussions) and experimented with distribution of the set in both cello and wax packs

As we have noted before the 1991 Topps set can be found with the most errors and variations when compared to most other modern sets. Curiously the 1991 Desert Shield set has no known variations....only print and ink variations.

Z

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Zach Wheat

I think this fits with a lot of what was going on at Topps at the time. I think the 1991 Topps sets will be viewed as one of the seminal sets of the modern era. I believe the 1991 set marks a year when Topps was experimenting with a number of items regarding new production methods....experimenting with both cello and wax distribution methods (packs can be found in both wax and cello)......dispensing of the bubble gum...printing fronts on the new clay coated shiny paper fronts (over chipboard stock)....using UV brighteners in the red ink (see previous 1991 Desert Shield discussions) and experimented with distribution of the set in both cello and wax packs

As we have noted before the 1991 Topps set can be found with the most errors and variations when compared to most other modern sets. Curiously the 1991 Desert Shield set has no known variations....only print and ink variations.

Z

I am sure the UV brightener was not added to the red ink on the card backs but applied in a separate layer before the red ink. The brightener was a transparent yellow in color. I had a Nolan Ryan with just the UV brightener layer applied to the back. I started a thread about the card here on Net54.

[SikSyko]

Could be them testing the O-Pee-Chee cards. They had the same fronts of the Topps sey with the white cards stock bilingual backs.

[bn2cardz]

I noticed there are differences in how the photos were cropped also.

Notice on this normal Telford from COMC that his hat just barely breaks the inner border. On mine his hat is nearly to the outer border. There are other differences as well, but basically on my double front version there is more photo showing all around.


Similar with the Barfield image on the original compared to mine. In the Barfield, though, his head breaks into the second border where on the original it stops short: