Interesting 75 variation/error?

[steve B]

I've had this pair of Toby Harrah cards for a few years, and it's a bit of a puzzle. I've never seen something like this listed anywhere. It's not faded, as the red is strong on the border and hat of the one with green basepaths. There is red in the field area, but that the dots are much smaller than on the normal one. It doesn't show any typical signs of underinking.

I'm on the fence about considering it a variation, as I haven't seen any others. But I'd be hard pressed to identify exactly how it could have happened as a misprint. I'm thinking maybe a worn plate? But if so there should be more, and there should be plenty with appearances in between the two.

Steve B

[BearBailey]

My best guess is that there was more than one printing, maybe even at different locations, maybe that is why there is a difference in brightness/dullness. I pulled a hand full of 1975 topps cards that I had multiples of, some there were significant differences like the Harrah's, some there was no difference? I would not consider that a variation, however, I guess it might have similarities to the 1962 Topps green tint variations?

[ALR-bishop]

Nice find. The debate about what is a variation and what is a print defect in endless, but it's still an interesting card if you are in to oddities...like Doug

[steve B]

I collect both variations and printing errors. There's a handful of cards like this one that I'm just not sure which group it belongs in.

I've a fairly loose definition of variation, counting anything that I can put down as a difference in the printing plate or a certain difference in the production equipment like die cutting mats. The vast majority of those differences are trivial and seldom listed anywhere.

For instance, some 75s are glossy all over, while some have no gloss over the white areas. The same thing happened with the backs of 93 upper deck. 3 varieties, one has gloss over just the picture one has gloss over the entire card, and a third looks like they were done with just over the picture then glossed completely.
91 topps come with not only the light and dark logos, but with ink on back that glows under UV light or ink that doesn't. I'm probablythe only person collecting those.......

Steve B

[bsuttonosu]

Originally Posted by steve B

91 topps come with not only the light and dark logos, but with ink on back that glows under UV light or ink that doesn't. I'm probablythe only person collecting those.......

Steve B

How did you figure this one out?! Does this apply to the Desert Shield versions as well?

Do you happen to keep a list of all the variations you find? I'm mostly a player collector, with George Brett being my focus right now, and I'm always looking for ways to expand my checklists for players into unlisted variations. I know many, and always make note when I find out new ones, but I also know there are a ton out there that I don't know about.

[steve B]

I got a blacklight to use with my stamp collection. And being a kid with a new toy I spent a while wrecking my eyes using the blacklight on nearly everything in the house the first night I had it. I had a monster box of 91's open on the desk and spotted it. I figured they should all be the same, but under UV the box looked like a huge bar code.

Both light and dark logos have the difference.
There's a third sort that shows as a very dark red, but it's very hard to spot.
Also there's a few with a cardboard stock that is mildly reactive to UV. Both of those are far less common.
And to top it all off I've found 4-5 out of about 10,000 that the glosscoat reacts by turning greenish.
I think most companies in the late 80's-early 90's were using multiple printing plants, so you'll find all sorts of little things in those sets.

I have a list of the variations I've found in the 91's somewhere. It's written, so I'll have to make a spreadsheet someday.

I keep some lists of the oddities I find, I just haven't brought them all together into one list.


Steve B

[doug.goodman]

Hey Al - Steve B sounds even crazier than I am...

I thought that thinking there are 3 back variations of each of the 1963 Topps peel-offs was bad...

Doug