1955 Topps Coloring--Killebrew

Originally Posted by swarmee

Since yellow fades under sunlight fastest, it could just be damage over time due to UV light exposure.

Actually red fades the fastest. Red has the longest wavelength of visible colors which causes it to fade quicker than others. Generally the higher wavelength the absorbed light, the more likely it is to cause a pigment breakdown. This is because the energy of each photon in light is proportional to the wavelength (Energy of a photon = Planck's constant times wavelength). Blue dyes reflect higher visible wavelengths (not absorb) so are therefore likely to have a minor fade resistance advantage over other colors. The science of it is even more complicated than that and way over my head but this is the cliff note version.

[jchcollins]

Interesting thread, Robert.

Topps color variation gets even more all over the place when you start looking at late 60's and early 70's cards. '73 is particularly inconsistent. I've had several cards in my collection that I've thought looked fine before, until I see them side by side with a copy of the same card that got a more favorable factory coloring, and it can be eye opening.

To my knowledge, none of the major TPG's downgrade for coloring unless there is a huge problem. I've seen "dull versions" of some cards still grade PSA 9.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Wimberleycardcollector

Actually red fades the fastest. Red has the longest wavelength of visible colors which causes it to fade quicker than others. Generally the higher wavelength the absorbed light, the more likely it is to cause a pigment breakdown. This is because the energy of each photon in light is proportional to the wavelength (Energy of a photon = Planck's constant times wavelength). Blue dyes reflect higher visible wavelengths (not absorb) so are therefore likely to have a minor fade resistance advantage over other colors. The science of it is even more complicated than that and way over my head but this is the cliff note version.

That is weird. I have seen a lot of faded baseball cards and never once have I seen magenta fade before yellow.

Originally Posted by bnorth

That is weird. I have seen a lot of faded baseball cards and never once have I seen magenta fade before yellow.

Follow the science. LOL!

I am sure there are many exceptions. This is just the science of it. Lots of factors beyond UV light alone affect faded baseball cards and any collectibles for that fact.

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by Wimberleycardcollector

Follow the science. LOL!

I am sure there are many exceptions. This is just the science of it. Lots of factors beyond UV light alone affect faded baseball cards and any collectibles for that fact.

Could you please provide even one single example.

I have made threads about the subject with pictures to help fellow collectors not buy faded cards as rare errors. I have done many many science experiments and posted the results on this forum. I have never seen magenta fade before yellow in real life experiments on baseball cards.

[LincolnVT]

Could also just be the exposure / lighting that the pictures of the card were taken under.

[G1911]

Red fades to orange on my T cards, not magenta.

Not a true variation, but the different results from sheet to sheet vary greatly in the Topps vintage years. I keep a lot of different ones like this in my sets, even though they are really dupes. Can really change the aesthetic for better or worse. Cool example Robert!

[bnorth]

Originally Posted by G1911

Red fades to orange on my T cards, not magenta.

Not a true variation, but the different results from sheet to sheet vary greatly in the Topps vintage years. I keep a lot of different ones like this in my sets, even though they are really dupes. Can really change the aesthetic for better or worse. Cool example Robert!

My experiments happened with cards from the 50s to the 90s.

I have heard the red to orange fading on T206s. I also heard many of the orange Cobbs got faded on purpose.