1952 Topps Baseball Cards - Perspectives Part 2
…continued from Part 1
Series 2: This sheet looks to be the entire series except the last column cut off. So, 10x5, which tracks with our previous definition of series 2. Cards 81-130. No repeats – every card printed once.
Series 3: No examples found.
Series 4: No examples found.
Series 5: The panel below are partial uncut sheets. One thing to note is that even though there is overlap between them, there is clearly a different order! This could very well have played into the “single print” confirmed theory addressed above.
Series 6: This panel is clearly representative of the right-hand side of the entire layout, as seen by the board border. It also has a thick bottom border. The top and left sides look like they were cut by a scissors. If it does represent the right side, I wonder what the left would have looked like. Keeping with the same numbering, it should actually start with cards 305-310, which is squarely in series 5! This lends some credence to my assertion that series 5 and 6 had the same print volume and thus series 6 is actually not scarcer.
Note that the numbering on the first panel would lend itself to cards ending in “7”, as the rows begin with an “8”, which would mesh nicely with the bookend Ed Mathews card (407).
I believe there were six more panels for Series 6 (total of 8) that would present the entire layout and prove the 3-card double print theory (311, 312, 313).
The data shows that Series 5 and 6 are likely equal in raw population, extrapolating from the graded population and thus it doesn’t appear that there’s any reason series 6 should command such premium prices, saving for the fokelore.
Parting is Such Sweet Sorrow
I hope you enjoyed this read! If you have any insights or suggestions, please leave a note below. I love conversing with fellow collectors and believe everybody has something to contribute to the discussion!