Uncut Sheet

Amazing Auction History – Eight Uncut 1933 Goudey Proof Sheets

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How about this for some amazing auction history: A group of eight uncut 1933 Goudey proof sheets from The Official 13th Annual National Sports Collectors Convention Auction, July 8-10, 1992.

Here’s the lot’s description, courtesy of Superior Galleries:

1933 Goudey Proof Sheets. This lot contains eight uncut proof sheets. When cards are printed in color, the printer checks each color process to make sure the presses are working properly and the colors are coming out as desired. This procedure has resulted in the color process such as the Goudey color process sheets. These sheets were not meant to be cut up and distributed-their purpose was to help the printer ensure that all was correct before full production be-gan. These are truly the first cards produced for the issue and are “proofs” in the true sense of the word, as they are meant to be ‘proofread.’

There are exactly two groups of complete Goudey proof processes known and this is one. Two different complete groups of eight process sheets, plus two process sheets of a third group of 24 Goudeys, which since had been cut up for individual sale. Notes from the original Goudey file indicate they were removed in 1943. The punch holes on the left side of each sheet were put there by the printer for the purpose of binding the sheets together with the aim to create a “book” of color proof processes. The same binding process, such as this or staples, is a common practice so the proof processor can keep the sheets neat and orderly for future reference, and separate from other printing jobs.

These sheets were originally taken from the Goudey Company in 1943 and were later discovered in the early 1970g. These are perhaps the most historic and unique uncut sheets ever to be offered for sale. The sheets have been framed and matted. Overall condition is Excellent to Mint.

Estimated value in 1992: $175,000-250,000.

Happy collecting!

A 1948 Leaf Boxing Complete Set on an Uncut Sheet

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Leslie Hindman Auctioneers ran The Official 14th Annual National Sports Collectors Convention Auction on July 22 and 24, 1993. This 1948 Leaf boxing complete set on an uncut sheet was one of its standout items.

The sheet was lot 482 and was described as follows, “1948 Leaf Boxing Complete Set Uncut Sheet, 49 cards make up this rare sheet. Joe Louis, Jake LaMotta, Tunney, Conn, Corbett, Jack Johnson, Sugar Ray Robinson, Max Baer, Jack Dempsey, etc. Sheet is in excellent to mint condition. $5,000/7,000.”

I’m unsure what it sold for in 1993, but REA re-sold the 17 x 20-inch sheet in the fall of 2020 for $3,120, describing it as having a Vg appearance despite numerous imperfections.

The Uncut Sheet Archive

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Welcome to the Uncut Sheet Archive! This is the hub for all the articles I’ve written about uncut sheets, sorted by sport and set. My goal is for it to be the definitive source of uncut sheet information on the web, offering insights into distribution, production quirks, and the factors behind why some vintage cards were so condition-sensitive, even out of the pack!

If you have any rare sheets to share, shoot me an e-mail.

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Hockey

Multi-Sport

Other Sports

Non-Sports

A Rare 1966 Exhibit Baseball Uncut Sheet?

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I ran across a rare item in Ron Oser Enterprises’ April 2001 catalog described as a 1966 Exhibit card uncut sheet from the last year that exhibit cards were issued. But I don’t know that the description was accurate!

My understanding is that the 1964-66 Exhibit cards don’t have ‘Printed in USA’ on the fronts and have blank backs, and it looks like the Berra batting card has that text on the bottom right. I’ve also read that this late series has 32 cards that were reprinted from the 1963 Stat set with blank backs (the ’63 set has 64 cards in the checklist), but Adam Warshaw has the best book on exhibit cards, Exhibit and Related Sports Arcade Cards, and he wrote, “As ESCO declined it issued a series of cards in 1964-66 that are substantially short printed and sell for a lot more than similar cards.” He went on to say that “the postwar run also yielded a key error card. Barney McCoskey is the corrected-common; Barney McCaskey is the error.” And I don’t see that card on the sheet. I also have seen 1963 Stat back checklists, and they don’t include a Mantle Portrait, which is included on the sheet and which Warshaw mentions as a key item in the late series. I’m so confused!

It looks to me like the exact same 1947-66 Exhibits uncut sheet that REA sold for $450 in the summer of 2019. They described it as a “32-card uncut production sheet.” They also wrote, “It is a virtual certainty that this sheet originates from the dispersal of The Exhibit Supply Company archives. Long ago, when the company was no longer in business, many of the photos, uncut sheets, and various advertising materials from the archives of the Exhibit Supply Company were scattered to the four corners of the collecting world.”

So, is this a late series sheet? Does the late series have 32 or 64 cards, and what’s their design makeup? Let me know if you know!

1955 Topps Doubleheaders Uncut Panel

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What’s super cool about the 1955 Topps Doubleheaders uncut panels is how clearly they show the continuous artwork designed into the backgrounds on the cards!

Mastro offered this particular copy in their April 2006 catalog. Here’s the complete description:

Collectors of individual ’55 Topps “Doubleheaders” cards appreciate the items’ clever design and 2-in-1 player format, but they might remain unaware of yet another eye-catching feature: when placed side-by-side in the correct sequence, the collectibles’ backgrounds merge into a realistically constructed stadium-setting tableau. That marvelously artistic detail is graphically revealed in the very scarce uncut panel of six “Doubleheaders” cards here offered. In this still-attached half-dozen, which clearly shows that multi-play-er paintings were neatly sectioned to create the original single-card images, the items’ subjects can be seen standing in front of a dugout, a batting cage, and consistent rows of seats. A great display piece! The panel’s cards include: #’s 11/12, 13/14, 15/16, 17/18, 19/20 and 21 Skowron/22. The uncut relic measures 4-3/4″ x 12-1/2″, and presents an EX condition appearance with irregular border cuts and natural handling faults confined to the periphery.

If you want to see all the baseball panoramas featured in the Doubleheaders set, check out this post on The Topps Archives called Double Your Pleasure, which features Roger Nisly’s compiled handiwork from various auction catalogs over the years.

1935 R89 And R90 Gum Inc. Mickey Mouse Uncut Sheets

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Who doesn’t love the mouse? These four sheets from Gum Inc. were auctioned off together in April 2004 and included three from the R89 Mickey Mouse set, and one from the R90 Mickey Mouse with the Movie Stars set.

Each panel includes 24 different card designs that were fully printed on both sides.

The lot included two sheets from the 1935 R89 Gum Inc. Mickey Mouse set, which included card numbers 49-72. One sheet was described as VG/EX condition, while the other was described as EX/MT. The other R89 sheet included cards 73-96, including the popular Walt Disney at his drawing board card 92.

The fourth sheet in the lot was a 1935 R90 Gum Inc. Mickey Mouse with the Movie Stars one, which included card numbers 97-120. At the time, it was thought to be the only uncut full sheet of R90 cards in existence. Unfortunately, the sheet had some significant damage and obvious surface paper loss.

1941 Play Ball Paper Sheet

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Christie’s offered this extremely scarce 1941 Play Ball paper sheet of twelve cards in their October 1993 catalog. It was expected to sell for $750-$1,000.

With cardboard being a critical commodity leading up to the US involvement in World War II, Play Ball issued a 24-card paper version of their 1941 baseball set. The “cards” were issued in two 12-card sheets. A scarce test issue to begin with, these cards were more fragile than their cardboard counterparts, which has made them increasingly difficult to find. 

In the lot’s description, Christie’s wrote that in 1941, Gum Inc. produced two paper proof sheets. The lot pictured above had twelve cards, numbered 1 to 12, printed on thin paper stock. This one was described as being in near-mint condition.

Heritage Auctions sold another copy of the same paper uncut sheet for $720 in May 2019.

And in August 2023, Huggins and Scott offered both sheets, but the current/final price shows “0.00” after opening at $500, so perhaps it got pulled.