Slightly OT - 1982 Topps Blackless

[onlychild]

If I remember correctly, the two names mentioned above have a complete or completed the blackless set. The ebay copy you posted could have been made by one of them...not sure?

Here is an article I wrote in 2005 about the Bob Fisk collection, he specializes in variation sets. His collection is truly amazing...plus he is an awesome guy. Joe Orlando deleted my name from this and all my other SMR published articles when my website went up. I also got banned from "everything PSA." I talked my way back into membership but he refused to credit my name on the articles (bummer).

Along with vintage, I also enjoy collecting pre-1991 variations. Typically not completing sets but a nice sampling. I do have a complete graded 66 card set of the 1984 Topps encased proofs. These especially tough because they only came in single sheet form, needless to say many are found off centered. GAI was the only company who would grade them at the time. Thankfully my cutting skills paid off and the set has an 8.8 GPA.

Since that set came out so good, I eventually found two others and divided them as well. Barring a few cards that were creased or stained when the sheet arrived, those also came out great and are currently raw in a binder. I turned down $700 for a raw Ryan.

When found in singles, HOF's usually sell for $50 on up, a few error cards about $150 and commons around $10.


Kevin
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[ALR-bishop]

I collect Topps variations and printing errors with all my sets, 51 to present. I, like Bob, have a blackless "set" of 396. I do not have the 4 "variations" of the basic print defects that make up the "base" set. I have seen them on scans. The only one I specifically remember is the Ken Forsch card which has a stray red dot on his cap.

The only person I know who has the 4 variations is the same person who authored the description in the prior post. He used to sell on ebay under the name zenithium. He may still sell blackless and other variations, but most recently had been selling stuff through another seller. You may be able to contact him under the name zenitium through ebay. If so, I have found Fred to be very generous with his knowledge of blackless specifically and variations in general. He tended to collect uncatalogged variations in the hopes they would be recognized later. On Blackless and the 80 Topps yellows he did pretty well. Also the 84 Encased cards. In a recent contact with Fred it is my understanding his blackless set is not complete, but he does still have what he believes are the 4 variations

Bob and I bought most of our blackless from 5 guys, 2 in NY ( As and Bs) and 2 from Michigan ( Cs). Can not remember where the 5th guy was located. The cards did appear in packs, and there was apparently an unopened cello with a blackless card on top on ebay recently

It is hard to complete the set in complete blackless, partly because some cards are hard to locate ( Stanley and Morris come to mind), and in some cases the cards actually have grey or light grey signatures where the black ink had not completely run out....more variations !

After completeing my Topps sets I gravitated to variations, catalogged and uncatalogged,. Be happy to compare notes with anyone who has a similar interest...blackless or otherwise

[ALR-bishop]

I checked my 82 "blackless notes" and Zenithium, the seller who wrote the detailed description posted in this thread, believes there are at least 4 variations to the 396 blackless set. They are....drum roll :

365 Madlock..."Cloud" near players name on back...I have not seen it

385 Forsch--"red feature on cap"...I have seen a scan...very small red dot

664 Spillner..."underlining look" under letters of player's name...I do not even know what that means

675 Cooper...another cloud by name on back.

I decided after he told me about them that I would stick to what I had, but I think Bob wants them real bad

[JasonL]

I recently purchased a 82 Blackless Ozzie Smith, and posted a scan in the Nov pickups thread...the card has alot of dark printing marks across the bottom of the image and scattered in a few places, and it got me to wondering if this is a true blackless card? what are your opinions?
I cast no aspersions to the seller, but it seems that maybe this isn't a true blackless if it has such stray printing marks, that look black?

thoughts?

thanks,
Jason

[ALR-bishop]

Jason---it looks good to me. The normal black signature would be in the upper left and the card shows no signs of a light grey signature, which can be found on a lot of semi blackless cards ( The Morris and Stanley were hard to find with no hint grey signature). Mine has a few grey blotches/dots near the bottom like yours, but no grey streaks where the black ink lines are on the regular cards. I can sens you a color copy of mine if you want to compare

[arexcrooke]

Do these cards carry any type of premium?
nevermind, i looked and found out for myself that they do, and sometimes very large premiums

[ALR-bishop]

You will find two types of premiums on these. The ones buyers are actually willing to pay, and the one some sellers think buyers should be willing to pay. The demand and supply lines often fail to intersect

[insidethewrapper]

Is there an up-to-date error and variation book on the market ? I have one from I think the '80s.