Ken Griffey Jr - 1999 Pacific Gold Crown Die Cuts #13

1974 Topps DECKLE EDGE
Checklist & Values

This scarce 72-card test issue set was released with very limited East Coast distribution making them quite scarce.

Officially simply called "Topps Baseball Photos", their serrated or "DECKLED" edge gave them the name they go by today. The 2 7/8" x 5" inch cards were sold in 2 card packs with gum or 3 card packs without for 5 cents.
Click to enlarge Complete Proof Sheet on left
Fronts are similar to b&w Exhibit Postcards from the 50's with photos and facsimile autographs. The backs make this very scarce test issue more interesting ! They feature handwritten script of player's name, team, position & date and location of the photograph as well as a mock newspaper article.

This was Topps 2nd "Deckle Edge" issue, their first being the smaller and more common 1969 Topps Deckle Edge inserts in 1969 Topps packs.

Variations of 1974 Topps Deckle Edge exist, making this issue more fun and challenging to collect. Backs can be found in gray or a much scarcer white. Also, more limited proof versions with non-scalloped edges exist and can be found with and without card numbers.

1969 Topps Deckle Edge checklist and prices

Autographed 1961 Topps Baseball Cards
Checklist & Values

Following autographs have auction house LOA's (Letter of Authenticity) from hobby's top vintage card authenticators for auction houses PSA/DNA & James Spence !!!

The 1961 Topps baseball card set (#1-#598) only had 587 cards because of missing numbers. Also there are 2 cards #463 (#463 Braves Team card was to be card #426).

Ugh !!! The 1961 Topps capless players !!! Picture your grand-dad. Without a cap. Life was obviously much tougher back then. Baseball expansion created the problem. Los Angeles Angels added, Washington Senators became Minnesota Twins, and Washington got a new Senators franchise. The autographs actually make the "capless" cards more attractive !!!

Baseball card collecting terms (part D-F)

Die-Cut A special card that differs from a basic card by "Die-Cutting", cutting away portions of the card to create a special design. Most are serially numbered & limited.

Error Card Baseball card history is filled with error cards, many of them very interesting. Hank Aaron is on 2 of my favorite error cards. Aaron's 1956 Topps card action photo shows Aaron sliding home but it is actually Willie Mays not Aaron. Topps again goofed on Aaron's 1957 "reversed negative" card showing Aaron batting left-handed.

"Error Cards" are usually found early in print runs and often corrected. When this correction happens a VARIATION is created. Some variations are extremely interesting and very expensive while others are totally boring and you wonder why they were even made.

Extended Set Also frequently called Update Set or Traded Set.
They are sets issued after the original release to update the regular set with new and traded players.

Facsimile Autograph is an autograph printed on a card to show what the player's actual signature looks like. They are not "real" autographs.

Factory Set are complete sets usually in special boxes produced by the manufacturer. "Hand-Collated Sets" are sets collectors have put together card by card from packs.

Ken Griffey Jr - 1999 Pacific Gold Crown Die Cuts #13

1974 Topps DECKLE EDGE Checklist & Values

1972 Topps AUTOGRAPHED Baseball Cards Info & Prices

Autographed 1961 Topps Baseball Cards Checklist & Values

1974 Topps DECKLE EDGE
Checklist & Values

1972 Topps AUTOGRAPHED
Baseball Cards Info & Prices

Autographed 1961 Topps Baseball Cards
Checklist & Values