1961 Fleer

6 Original Photos That Transformed into Iconic Basketball Cards

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Today, here’s a short basketball-dedicated list of 6 original pictures that Topps, Kahn’s Wieners, Fleer, and Bowman used to create some awesome cards.

1968 Topps Test #5 John Havlicek

In February 2020, Heritage Auctions sold this unique 8×10’’ photograph of John Havlicek, which Topps used for their scarce 1968 Topps Test Issue, for just $312.

John Havlicek Photo – Front
John Havlicek Photo – Reverse
1968 Topps Test #5 John Havlicek

1960 Kahn’s Wieners Jerry West

I don’t know if this photograph is a Type 1 example, but it is autographed and authenticated by JSA. In early 2023, the photo was listed for sale on eBay for $8,750.

Jerry West Photo – Front
Jerry West Photo – Reverse
1960 Kanh’s Wieners Jerry West

1961 Fleer #19 Tommy Heinsohn

The following 8×10’’ Type 1 image of Tommy Heinsohn was listed for sale on eBay for $1,800 in January 2023 but is now listed for $749.99. Heinsohn was an all-time great and was elected to the Hall of Fame as both a player and a coach.

Tommy Heinsohn Photo – Front
Tommy Heinsohn Photo – Reverse
1961 Fleer #19 Tommy Heinsohn

1961 Fleer #22 K.C. Jones

Robert Edward Auctions sold this Type 1 image of Boston Celtics Hall of Fame great K.C. Jones for $1100 in their 2020 fall auction.

K.C. Jones Photo – Front
K.C. Jones Photo – Reverse
K.C. Jones Photo – LOA
1961 Fleer #22 K.C. Jones

1976 Topps #60 Pete Maravich

Lelands’ 2022 Summer Classic Auction had three great Type 1 basketball photos used for the 1976 Topps basketball set, but the Maravich stood out. It sold for $1375.

Pete Maravich Photo – Front
Pete Maravich Photo – Reverse
Pete Maravich Photo – LOA
1976 Topps #60 Pete Maravich

1948 Bowman #69 George Mikan

This Mikan Type 1 image was signed and sold for $30k at Robert Edwards Auction’s 2018 Spring Auction. 

George Mikan Photo – Front
George Mikan Photo – Reverse
George Mikan Photo – LOA
1948 Bowman #69 George Mikan

I hope you enjoyed seeing these amazing original photographs. Please reach out if you have any other type photographs used to create basketball cards, particularly any from the ’80s Fleer basketball sets.

Happy collecting!

1961 Fleer Baseball Greats: Still Great And Still Affordable

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Baseball Cards Magazine set the standard for hobby writing; here’s a piece by Tom Lamarre, published in December 1986, about the 1961 Fleer Baseball Greats set.

While Set Registry competition has driven up the prices of high-grade examples for some of the set’s key cards, complete raw sets in decent condition remain surprisingly affordable.

For example, Huggins and Scott sold an Ex to Ex-Mt near set of 152/154 cards for $390 in December 2023.

And Collect Auctions sold a similarly conditioned complete set for $566 in March 2022.

Happy collecting!

Prince of Cards – The “Best” Unopened Product You Will Ever See

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Yesterday, I shared an ad from The Baseball Card Kid, with whom most collectors on the leading unopened FB group had fond memories. This ad from Prince of Cards didn’t precisely elicit identical memories.

The ad is a scan from the June 1996 issue of Sports Card Trader. Here are a few comments from collectors on the Facebook ‘Vintage Wax and Packs’ group after I posed this same ad on September 15th, 2024.

  • One collector noticed that the 1971 rack was bad since the header hole was wrong, and another group expert commented that the 1969 Aaron/Bench rack was probably bogus, too, showing just how far back people were fabricating this stuff.
  • Someone noticed that the 1975 mini box at $1,750 was actually higher than the price for one as recently as 2012 or so. And someone commented that they were getting them for around $400 in the early ’90s.
  • It’s not all bad; one collector said he bought a couple of 1986 Fleer basketball sets from Prince (in the late ’90s), and both Jordan’s graded PSA 8.
  • A collector remembered the huge find of sealed 61-62 Fleer basketball cases in the late 80s/early 90s.
  • Another collector recalled buying a 1969 cello pack from this dealer that, when opened, had two wax-stained cards in the middle (circa 1992). Another purchased some 1961 Fleer basketball packs around this time that, when opened a few years later, had 1980s Topps baseball cards in the middle.
  • A ton of collectors said the packs purchased from this dealer in the early ’90s were bad.

The lesson is to be informed and do as much homework as possible, especially when buying pricey items in the unopened niche. 

Check out The Unopened Archive for more!

24 1961 Fleer Basketball Wax Packs

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In August 2004, this lot of 24 1961 Fleer basketball wax packs was auctioned together with a GAI-encapsulated empty wax box.

In the summer of 2023, a GAI 7.5 pack sold for $4680; in August 2022, a PSA 6 pack sold for $8100. If that’s outside your price range, you can pick up a nice wrapper for under $100. There are three variations: Science Kits-Set, Dubble Bubble, and Airplane.

Check out The Unopened Archive for more!