1950 Topps Football Felt Backs Complete Set (100) Plus 15 Variations and 44 Duplicates

Sold For:

$4,080

Year:

1950

Auction:

2020 Fall

Lot #:

2389

Category:

Football Cards or Memorabilia

Rarely offered 100-card complete set of the first major football-card series ever issued by Topps, highlighted by Joe Paterno's rookie card. Also included are fifteen background color variations (out of a possible twenty-five) and forty-four duplicates. These unusual cards, honoring college football stars, were issued a year prior to Topps’ Connie Mack All Stars and Current All Stars, as well as the 1951 Topps Red and Blue Back baseball sets. The cards measure 7/8 x 1-7/16 inches with a portrait image set against a colored background (blue, red, green, brown, or yellow), and with the back of each card featuring a felt pennant representing the player’s school. This is only the second complete set we have ever offered in the last decade! The condition is 32% Ex to Ex-Mt (mostly Ex), 51% Vg to Vg-Ex, and 17% lesser (including one miscut and seven with missing backs). Keys: Two Creekmur RC (both Ex), Davis RC (Vg), Hart/yellow (Vg-Ex+), Jensen/yellow (Fr-Gd), Justice (Fr due to extra paper on reverse), Nomellini (HOF, Vg-Ex), Paterno RC (PSA VG-EX 4, holder is lightly scratched), two Royal/brown (both Vg-Ex), Royal/yellow (Vg-Ex), Stautner (HOF, Vg+), Towler/brown (Ex), Towler/yellow (Ex), and Walker/yellow (HOF, Vg-Ex+). This is a very significant and scarce early Topps issue, which has always been somewhat overlooked by collectors, perhaps because of their unusual dimensions. Total: 159 cards (set of 100 plus 15 variations and 44 duplicates). Reserve $300. Estimate (open).