1985 Topps "Garbage Pail Kids" Original Series 1-2 Near-Complete and Complete Sets (2 Sets, 333 Stickers)

Sold For:

$3,600

Year:

1985

Auction:

2022 Spring

Lot #:

3294

Category:

Non-Sports Cards/Sheets/Card Artwork

Presented are two sets (one complete and one near-complete) of the 1985 Topps "Garbage Pail Kids" stickers, representing the first two original series of this popular 1980s nonsport issue. Also included are seventy additional stickers from Series 3 through 8. Clearly a parody of Coleco's popular Cabbage Patch Kids dolls (which ultimately led to a trademark infringement lawsuit), Topps Garbage Pail Kids cards were the brainchild of Pulitzer Prize-winning cartoonist Art Spiegelman (of Maus graphic novel fame), who was also the main creator of Topps Wacky Packages. Each sticker features a humorously drawn cartoon kid with a rhyming, alliterative, or word-play nickname. Topps Garbage Pail Kids stickers were an instant hit with youngsters, with many schools banning them because of their edgy content and the distractions they caused. 1) 1985 Topps Series 1 Complete Set (82 stickers) Plus 4 Variations and 65 Duplicates: Condition of the set is 11% Nr/Mt to Nr/Mt-Mt, 54% Ex to Ex-Mt, and 35% Vg to Vg-Ex (including a few miscut). Includes both variations of #5b, 8a, 8b, and 29b. Keys: #1a Nasty Nick (slightly miscut left edge, otherwise Ex), 1b Evil Eddie (Ex), 8a Adam Bomb (Ex+, checklist back), 8a Adam Bomb (Vg, "Cheaters License" back), 8b Blasted Billy (Ex-Mt+, checklist back), and 8b Blasted Billy (Ex+, "Cheaters License" back). Condition of the duplicates is 61% Ex to Ex-Mt (including a couple Nr/Mt) and 39% Vg to Vg-Ex. Duplicate Keys: Two #8a Adam Bomb (Ex and Vg-Ex, both checklist backs), 8b Blasted Billy (Ex-Mt, checklist back), and two 8b Blasted Billy (Ex+ and Vg-Ex, both "Cheaters License" backs). Twenty-nine of the cards have a glossy reverse. 2) 1985 Topps Series 2 Near-Complete Set (75/82 stickers) Plus 37 Duplicates: 64% Ex to Ex-Mt (including a couple Nr/Mt) and 36% Vg to Vg-Ex (including two lesser). Missing: 42b, 43a, 46b, 51a, 70a, 70b, and 76a. All the cards have Messy Tessie puzzle reverses, with a mix of Glossy and scarcer Matte reverses. 3) 1985-1987 Topps Series 3 through Series 8 Collection (70 stickers): 47% Nr/Mt to Nr/Mt-Mt, 40% Ex to Ex-Mt, and 13% Vg to Vg-Ex. This is a very attractive collection of mid- to high-grade stickers from these popular 1980s nonsport sets. Total: 333 stickers. Reserve $200.