1966 or 68 Deckle Proofs

[ALR-bishop]

Tod-- you could easily be right that these sheets were produced prior to 68. I think on several Topp test or odd ball items listed in SCD the date given is often a best guess

[Bob Lemke]

You're right about some sets dates being best guesses.

I don't know on what basis the 1968 date was attributed. It may have been on the word of whomever supplied the photo/information, perhaps Richard Gelman or Larry Fritsch.

Coincidentally, I just ran across my own example of the uncut sheet while sifting through a box of stuff this morning that I'm planning to sell. I'll try to remember to list it on the B/S/T forum later this weekend.

[toppcat]

I am thinking Topps just used some at hand B&W pix for the proofs; they seem more designed to determine what color autograph would look best and not necessarily to display players intended to be in the set. Topps would often use whatever was "lying around" for in house tests and the timeline if they were testing for 1969 would have been in the fall of 1968 for the deckles.

[ALR-bishop]

Bob--Larry S mentioned in here that he is looking for a blue or red if yours happens to be one of those two

[nolemmings]

Thanks for the info guys.

[Bob Lemke]

Mine is the blue-autograph version. I've posted it on the B/S/T.

I agree with David's reasoning on how this sheet came to exist . . . Topps using a variety of "old" photos to test how various color autos would show up on white jerseys, grass, dirt, etc.

[ALR-bishop]

As I mentioned earlier, the first 4 series of the 69 set itself are full of older photos on capless or airbrushed players. Topps did not get its new license agreement with Marvin Miller until after the set was well under way, so I think they were stuck with old photos for part of 68 and 69