1959 Topps Salesman Sample question

[fkw]

Salesman Sample??

Are the cards you refer to smaller than a normal card and say "PROMOTIONAL SAMPLE, THE TOPPS CO., Brooklyn NY" on the blank back?

If so they are not authentic, they are photos are cards cut from the Topps Baseball Cards Book or Team Issued Surf Books, and worthless.

If its something else, Id like to see pictures

[steve B]

Probably a Topps Ad panel. Some were 3 cards with an ad back, some were 2 cards with an aditional card size ad on the front. I think 59 was 3 cards, I'll have to find mine and see since I can't recall which just now.

I think, but I'm not positive that the 3 card panels had the same layout as the regular sheets.

Steve B

[Griffins]

'59 Salesman Samples are legit and were issued as 3 card panels. The card on the back does not correspond to any on the front.
I've got a couple, but not one with Mays on it. This is the front and back of one of mine, for some reason I scanned them at different sizes


Salesman Samples were issued by Topps from '52 thru '67, all 3 card panels with the exception of '60, which has 8 cards. The '55 panels also include a '55 Doubleheader on the back, as seen below.


Bowman issued them in '54 and '55. The '54's are 4 card panels, 2x2, with a sticker on the back. The '55's are 3 card panels with a sticker covering the entire back panel, as seen below


Fleer also issued a 3 card Salesman Sample in '59. I have not seen one from any other years. I have a whole bunch of 3 & 4 card panels from other Topps, Bowman and Fleer issues, but without any ad copy on the back they just seem like strips of uncut cards, and not ad panels.

[ALR-bishop]

Anthony---that is interesting about the back card stats not matching anyone on the front. I wonder if that argues against being able to predict who the 3d player was on Don's cut 2 card panel.

Steve---that is what I am trying to find out, was De Maestri next to Mays on the first series sheets, and if so, who was next to them. Interesting that someone would cut off a card and leave Mays....unless it was Mantle

[Griffins]

Al, not only do they not match anyone on the front, in at least the case of this '57 panel the number of the card on the back is incorrect- in '57 #87 was Tom Gorman, not Clint Courtney, as it was on this panel (this one is not mine, it sold in the last Mile High)


The few salesman samples I have that I also have uncut production sheets for match up on the fronts, the backs are a completely new creation. I would suspect if you can find a 1st series sheet from '59 you'll see who is missing from Don's panel.

[ALR-bishop]

Great item Anthony. Don't go cutting Yogi off..

[ecRich]

Here is a three card salesman sample from the 1960 set.

[ls7plus]

Originally Posted by fkw

Salesman Sample??

Are the cards you refer to smaller than a normal card and say "PROMOTIONAL SAMPLE, THE TOPPS CO., Brooklyn NY" on the blank back?

If so they are not authentic, they are photos are cards cut from the Topps Baseball Cards Book or Team Issued Surf Books, and worthless.

If its something else, Id like to see pictures

There are salesman's samples from even a number of early sets, such as M101-4. I've seem them, they're made from the same plate and not rescreened, demonstrating the appropriate dot/ink pattern. They'll come out when the time is right, when the cynics among us would like to shoot them down, but won't be able to.

Leave a little mystery for now. Time will eventually reveal all.

Larry

[ALR-bishop]

Originally Posted by fkw

Salesman Sample??

Are the cards you refer to smaller than a normal card and say "PROMOTIONAL SAMPLE, THE TOPPS CO., Brooklyn NY" on the blank back?

If so they are not authentic, they are photos are cards cut from the Topps Baseball Cards Book or Team Issued Surf Books, and worthless.

If its something else, Id like to see pictures

I missed this when it was the second post after my original. I am familiar with these things and in fact have a couple of them. I got them only after Bob L listed them in the SCD Catalog as fakes and with a picture and explanation ( I think a 62 Mantle is pictured but the description is listed under 1960). The interesting thing to me is what value items obtain just by the fact they get listed in the Catalog...even as fakes. For example, I paid a few bucks for the 2 I have, knowing they were fakes, just because they were in the Catalog

[steve B]

That's true in other hobbies too. Some forged stamps by famous forgers like Sperati are worth more than the originals.

Steve B