Topps Original Artwork

Exploring the Cosmos: Two Topps Space Cards Original Artworks

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Here are a pair of Topps Space Cards original artworks that Mastro offered in his June 2008 Classic Collector Auction.

Dating these is complicated. According to the Non-Sports Bible, the 1957 Topps Space Cards came out in 1957 with backs printed in black and blue tones, and their English version (U.K.) was printed in 1958 by A&BC. But there’s also a blue-colored back set issued in 1958 called “Target: Moon,” and Watson states that no one can say which was issued first, “Space” or “Target: Moon,” even though he dated the Space set to 1957. The salmon-colored backed cards were re-issued in 1967 as part of a game. However, in 2013, it seems like The Topps Archives settled on 1957 for Space Cards and 1958 for Target: Moon.

That said, it’s highly probable that just a single original artwork exists for each card. And for reference, a few others have sold for between $1,300 and $2,700. Also, “Testing A Space Pilot” is card #11, and “Robot Nears Moon” is card #8 in the 88-card set.

In case you’re curious, I found both sets’ penny and nickel wrappers on this Vintage Non-Sports Forum thread.

Happy collecting, and don’t forget to check out The Original Artwork Archive for more!

The 1984 Topps Gremlins Rack Pack Display Box Artwork

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Old catalogs, new discoveries! From the October 2007 Classic Collector Auction Catalog: 1984 Topps Gremlins Rack Pack Display Box Production Artwork and Color Proof Sheets.

Remember, the Classic Collector Auctions from Mastro were internet-only, so the catalogs rarely included any item descriptions.

You can find unique wax boxes for this set’s American (Topps) and Canadian (O-Pee-Chee) releases. However, I think the rack packs were only distributed in the US.

Here are all the boxes I could find; first, an OPC variation that REA sold for $270 in May 2023.

Next, here’s a Topps X-out variation that Collect Auctions sold in March 2022 for $110.

Also, because it’s cool, Huggins & Scott sold a sealed case of Topps Gremlins cards for $1,230 in August 2021; they’re pretty tough to track down now.

Finally, this 1984 Topps Gremlins Rack Box Case and three BBCE-wrapped (but not marked FASC) boxes, which you can compare to the proofs above, were offered on Facebook in February 2024 for $1,750.

Happy collecting, and don’t forget to check out The Unopened Archive!

1960 Topps World Series Cards’ Original Artwork

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Ron Oser Enterprises offered a collection of five 1960 Topps World Series Cards’ Original Artworks in their December 2000 auction. A sixth showed up for sale in 2013 before REA re-sold the five from 2000 in the summer of 2020. I’m still hunting for the original artwork for Hodges’ Winning Homer (card 388).

Ron Oser Enterprises described the five pieces in their December 2000 auction as flexichrome artworks that measured approximately 4 x 5 inches, in beautiful condition, and still mounted to the artist’s board. They included an example card with each piece (cards 385, 386, 387, 389, and 391). Only ‘Furillo Breaks Up Game’ (card 387) was pictured in the catalog.

It turns out that REA sold the original artwork, without an example, for another item in the World Series subset, card 390, ‘Scrambling After Ball,’ in their 2013 Fall auction for $593.

Then, REA re-sold the five items Ron Oser offered in their 2020 Summer catalog. The artwork for card 385 (Neal Steals Second) sold for $1,170, 386 (Neal Belts 2nd Homer) for $1,170, 387 (Furillo Breaks Up Game) for $1,170, 389 (Luis Swipes Base) for $1,620, and 391 (The Champs Celebrate) for $1,200.

As I said in the intro, I haven’t been able to find the original artwork for card #388, ‘Hodges’ Winning Homer,’ but here’s a PSA-graded sample. Let me know if you have a lead on the artwork, though!

Check out The Original Artwork Archive for more!