The Spring 1982 issue of Baseball Cards has a great article by Bill Bossert called Uncut Sheets Tell the Untold Story. He shares this incredible proof sheet for Topps’ 1972 Candy Lids test issue in it.
Update 20 March 2025: After sharing A 1973 Topps Test Candy Lid Uncut Sheet From The Hobby Library Archives, Keith Olberman shared a nice point of clarification about its connection to the sheet pictured above:
FYI this sheet is the second version of what has mistakenly been labeled “1972 Topps Candy Lid Proof Sheet” – the one with the hockey team photos and other detritus behind larger versions of the photo used on the lids. These – and the “1972s” – are both from 1973. Look closely and you’ll see they’re the same player photos. Topps only made two “lids” sets, in 1970 (has team logos) and 1973 (all logos blacked out).
Here’s what Bossert wrote about the set and sheet:
I hope that sheet wasn’t cut up. However, I did find this 1972 Topps Candy Lid Test Proof Willie Mays card that was sold by SCP Auctions for $622 on January 29, 2008.
You can see that Topps printed the Mays card on previously used stock, and there are a few other proof’s out there.
Check out The Uncut Sheet Archive for more!