1991 Topps / DS Packaging

[Zach Wheat]

Originally Posted by 4reals

That is interesting if indeed they are legit. Since you have an example from all but one sheet it is conceivable to believe all sheets were covered meaning if someone tried hard enough and spent enough money a glow and non glow DS set could be constructed. I dare you to try...lol

Well if the 1992 Sun Sentinel article originally referenced in the 1st 1991 Topps DS thread is accurate - and this is supported by comment by the Topps Spokesperson at the time (Timm Boyle) who indicated a production of 5,400,000 cards or 6,818 sets and the current non-glow back percentages apply, there would only be 21 "non-glow" backs of each card.

Timm Boyle also mentioned that they assumed only a third to half of their production actually made it back to the US - including the large shipment of 1,500,000 cards sent back to Myrtle Beach after the conclusion of Desert Shield (and the start of Desert Storm), then there can't be many of each card. Completing a full set of non-glow back DS cards would be achievable but probably not realistic within the normal realm of possibilities.

Z Wheat

[Zach Wheat]

By the way, I contacted Timm Boyle after he left Topps regarding the accuracy of the production figures or any other information he could provide - but he did not respond.

Therefore, the best estimates for the production of the Desert Shield set is stuck at the 5,400,000 mark.


Z Wheat

[Zach Wheat]

OK guys, I realize this is kind of lame - responding to your own post, not once but twice - before anyone else responds. However, I have gone over 4,970 cards and have found 8 non-glow back DS cards. I am about halfway done. I guess I have more DS cards than I thought. Sigh...

Noteworthy is that 1 card is a fake. A pretty good fake - but a fake nevertheless. There is a lot of confusing information out there on fakes so I thought I would post a JPEG with details on why it is a fake for educational purposes. The main tell tale sign is the tip of the palm leaf does comes down between the E & R of "Operation" and the stars in the flag are fuzzy. The gold embossing is not as sharp as on a true DS card and the card happens to be of Wade Boggs on Sheet A. As we have discussed many times before Sheet A DS cards have a bold "40th Anniversary" logo; this card doesn't and is clearly a variation of the regular 1991 Topps issue. The faker just used the wrong variation of 1991 card. The card is clearly a fake.


Zach Wheat

[ALR-bishop]

... is probably being monitored by NSA in belief that Zach and Joe are sending coded messages to each other, or maybe Zach to himself

[Zach Wheat]

[4reals]

What if DS cards were actually used as a vessel to distribute tactical information on the battlefield? Soldiers spoke to each other in code using the stats on the backs of the cards...and reflective ink was used so they could view the cards in the dark with their night vision glasses...and, whoa, look at all the pretty colors...why is everything moving in slow motion?

[Zach Wheat]

Hmmm.....my keen sense of self-awareness tells me I am being mocked.

Ok, here is the almost final tally. I found 16 non-glow back cards out of approx. 8,000 reviewed. This results in approx. 0.2% of cards being the non-glow back variety. I have access to, but did not include the 11 full sheets of DS cards as they are stored securely in a flat sealed container. Upon review I realized the bulk of the non-glow back cards came from 3 acquisitions made from soldiers that were assigned overseas. Still trying to figure that odd connection out. Sorry Joe, no Dodgers.

And all true DS checklists were of the "glow" variety.

And to respond to an earlier private email re: fake logo's, the above posts assume that most - even Arthur - can pick out the obvious fake logo's. (sorry Arthur, Al put me up to it). The main variety of fakes being shields too wide, shields that are pointy at the bottom, etc. A forger has figured out a way to accurately emboss the gold/silver logo on these cards - and the only major difference I see is that the palm tree is shifted slightly to the left. Other minor differences were previously described in that the embossing is fuzzy and you can't make out the stars in the flag, etc.


Z Wheat