Wacky Packages Forum
Wacky Packages Discussion => General Wacky Packages Discussion => Topic started by: Fanatical_and_Sickly on August 10, 2019, 08:44:48 AM
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We haven't had any original series discussions in quite a while - so here's something to talk about
While sorting through some old blue wrappers the other day, I again recalled a vivid memory of ripping open packs of 6th and 7th as a kid and wondering about a white triangular spot in the K on some of the packs.
I mentioned this on the other forum a long time ago, but I had no pictures to show what I was talking about. So, at the time it was dismissed as probably nothing more than poor quality control at Topps, and akin to the dust rings in the black borders. (i.e. nothing special)
Somewhere in the years since that post I picked up several of these 'special K' wrappers without realizing it. Looking at them recently with fresh eyes, I now believe that these are true variations, and not just bad QC.
Two things really stand out with these wrappers: the first is that white triangle in the K in Wacky. The second is that the colors are saturated, with heavily printed ink, and using a deeper shade of blue than the other 462-21-01's.
To me, the clincher of what makes this is a variation though, is that these wrappers have a second black guide line located at the lower left. No other Wacky wrapper that I've seen has that second black bar (time for everyone to dig through their wrapper piles looking for guide marks!). And for the most part, Topps never uses a second bar on their wrappers. (I've found two exceptions out of the scores of wrappers across the decades that I've looked through. And for both titles, all the wrappers that I found have two bars, which would indicate they're meant to be there).
The entire image on the wrapper is also shifted right, to provide room for the black bar. I don't believe this is the result of a mis-cut, but intentional. I haven't seen many packs though, but it's possible that the folds of the wrapper are also offset to the right in order to keep the image centered. I'll leave that for the pack aficionados to figure out.
Whether any of this is enough for folks to want to have an example in their collection, I'd be curious to hear.
For fun I looked at Greg's site to see what images he has posted. His pic of the unfolded 462-21-01 is the pale blue variety, while his pics for the 6th and 7th series packs are the white triangle variety.
http://www.wackypacks.com/wrappers/0-462-21-01-3_small.html
http://www.wackypackages.org/packs/6th_packs.html
http://www.wackypackages.org/packs/7th_packs.html
The white triangle in the K. Colors and contrast exaggerated to make it stand out.
(https://i.postimg.cc/FKxn4ttc/Triangle.jpg)
Side by side of two 462-21-01 wrappers, to show color and saturation differences
(https://i.postimg.cc/prX4pn1X/462-21-Sx-S.jpg)
highlighting the unique points of the variation wrapper
(https://i.postimg.cc/xdLFTPgS/462-21-overlays-500.jpg)
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Shade differences in wrappers of the same basic color occur for several of the wrapper colors. Definitely yellow, blue and green.
I don’t have enough wrappers to look into the guide lines, but I don’t think the white triangle wrappers are the only ones of this shade of blue. I think some 7th series wrappers without the triangle have the same shade.
Do these two appear to be the same shade to you? One seems to have deeper yellow lettering, but the blues look the same to me.
(https://i.postimg.cc/L8dZf65g/77-EFD4-BF-F772-459-D-BA74-07-F20-ACF0-F4-C.jpg)
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I would say the triangle and darker color are better described as indicators of a variation, indicative of a separate print run, whereas the added black bar pushes it into legit variation territory.
I’ve noticed a similar color distinction in the green wrappers, a very light, almost pastel-like shade, and a much darker one. Wouldn’t be surprised if there were other small differences like what we have here, that are easily overlooked until closely examined.
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I would say the triangle and darker color are better described as indicators of a variation, indicative of a separate print run, whereas the added black bar pushes it into legit variation territory.
I’ve noticed a similar color distinction in the green wrappers, a very light, almost pastel-like shade, and a much darker one. Wouldn’t be surprised if there were other small differences like what we have here, that are easily overlooked until closely examined.
Yes, if I recall correctly, the 85 fold wrappers from series 9 and the 21 fold ones from series 11 seem to be the darker shade of green. All the others including all 12ths are the lighter shade of green.
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Here are packs I view as the darker shade of green....21-fold 11th and 85-fold 9th...
(https://i.postimg.cc/66Sy0ZvW/11s21wp74f.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/qBYP1zSp/9s85ibf.jpg)
...and here are ones that I view as the lighter shade....21-fold 9ths, 85-fold 11ths, and all 12ths....
(https://i.postimg.cc/9XSrN5sH/12s85f.jpg)
(https://i.postimg.cc/4402bqMM/9s21jnf.jpg)
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I never noticed it before, but the 21-fold 9th on the bottom above has the Tied box as red as the Quacker, which the others do not....
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Shade differences in wrappers of the same basic color occur for several of the wrapper colors. Definitely yellow, blue and green.
I don’t have enough wrappers to look into the guide lines, but I don’t think the white triangle wrappers are the only ones of this shade of blue. I think some 7th series wrappers without the triangle have the same shade.
Do these two appear to be the same shade to you? One seems to have deeper yellow lettering, but the blues look the same to me.
fantastic that you have a pack with the triangle. Was that intentional or just part of your mix of packs?
I agree, shade differences do appear for the same wrapper colors across a series, and some of the other 462 production codes do have a darker blue as well. Just looking at Greg's page showing the 4-5 packs of 6th and 7th, those different hues are visible. (But the 462 triangle packs strongly stand out even there).
From what I see on my monitor, your pack on the left does have a darker shade of blue (along with the deeper yellow). I assume the one on the right is also a 21-01?
I have a couple dozen regular 21-01 wrappers and while a majority are that pale blue, some are darker, but still not as deep a blue as the triangle version.
These middle series wrappers likely had the highest productions runs of any of them, so chances of color differences for a specific wrapper code are also probably pretty great. And if it's just tone difference, no big deal, but having the defective K, and the extra guide bar is enough to put it in variation territory for me.
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I actually had an entire full 6th series box of the white triangle packs. Once I stopped collecting full boxes I kept one and sold off the others gradually over the years.
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I actually had an entire full 6th series box of the white triangle packs. Once I stopped collecting full boxes I kept one and sold off the others gradually over the years.
Wow, a full box of OS!! I count myself fortunate to even have my empty Series 15 box as an example. How many different full original series boxes did you have?
I just checked and my 6th pack is the regular kind.
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Wow, a full box of OS!! I count myself fortunate to even have my empty Series 15 box as an example. How many different full original series boxes did you have?
I just checked and my 6th pack is the regular kind.
At one point I had the following full boxes:
2nd Series
3rd Series
6th Series
7th Series
7th Gumless
9th Series
10th Series
12th Series
14th Series
15th Series
Eventually, I opened all the 15th series packs, that’s where most of my PSA 15th set came from. I sold the 3rd box to Greg Schwartz. I sold a lot of the packs to Greg while keeping the display boxes because they were all in nice shape. He put the packs in lesser display boxes and sold them. I think the 6ths were the only series where I kept all the packs and sold them gradually.
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That must have been a sight to behold!
Now I have to decide whether I want a 6th pack with the white triangle........
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That must have been a sight to behold!
Now I have to decide whether I want a 6th pack with the white triangle........
That is the only 21-fold 6th series no ad pack I own. I never really viewed it as a variation. I don’t think I ever even took notice of it until Patrick pointed it out years ago.
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I looked through all my packs and wrappers and don’t have any of the triangle prints.
I did just look through my lack luster reissue collection, though, and I found a neat error.
(https://i.postimg.cc/VdPmkcp9/2693-E618-EC91-4384-97-A9-8433-E33-DC8-E8.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/VdPmkcp9)
Just a misprint, but adds a new dimension to the Wacky Packs logo on the checklist.
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I don’t get it. Where is the misprint?
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He’s talking about the fact that the salmon ink was applied slightly to the right, giving the lettering a 3-D appearance.
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I see that now. Thank you!
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I looked through all my packs and wrappers and don’t have any of the triangle prints.
I did just look through my lack luster reissue collection, though, and I found a neat error.
(https://i.postimg.cc/VdPmkcp9/2693-E618-EC91-4384-97-A9-8433-E33-DC8-E8.jpg) (https://postimg.cc/VdPmkcp9)
Just a misprint, but adds a new dimension to the Wacky Packs logo on the checklist.
Hey Mr! No Reissue is "Lack Luster!!" :)
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Hey Mr! No Reissue is "Lack Luster!!" :)
I never said the reissues were lack luster, I said my collection is. ;)
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I never said the reissues were lack luster, I said my collection is. ;)
I think Jeff was saying that whatever you have is cool, not lack luster ;)
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I think Jeff was saying that whatever you have is cool, not lack luster ;)
I know. I was making a joke that didn’t make sense whatsoever.
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I know. I was making a joke that didn’t make sense whatsoever.
If you can use some lackluster reissue stickers, PM me.
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Pat, don't make me fly out there and...….. and...……….oh never mind :)
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Pat, don't make me fly out there and...….. and...……….oh never mind :)
Consider yourself tweaked >:D
Seriously though, I do have plenty of mid-grade reissue stickers if anyone is trying to complete sets.
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well, this kind of wandered around for a bit, but back to the wrapper.
Using a reprint as an example (for continuity with all the reprint lovers on this thread), an image of the proof also shows that the wrappers are by design to have just the single black bar at the upper right.
With this variation, it's not the color, or even so much the white triangle (although I've not seen other wrappers with such printing defects), but having the two black bars that set this one apart from the others.
(https://i.postimg.cc/cLTB9WXV/3rd-Reprint-Wrapper-Proof.jpg)
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I realize this is an old topic, but I felt I needed to chime in on the black registration bars. Most of Topps' wrappers were printed as large sheets and then cut into strips as the rolls most of you are familiar with. Of the few sheets I've seen images of, for whatever reason, the wrappers are offset from each other by column, so when the columns are cut into strips and rolled, if the cut is off, you get the black registration bars on both sides of the wrapper, usually one near the top and the other near the bottom. Here is an example sheet to show what I'm talking about...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50878777162_d54e508234_o.jpg)
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I realize this is an old topic, but I felt I needed to chime in on the black registration bars. Most of Topps' wrappers were printed as large sheets and then cut into strips as the rolls most of you are familiar with. Of the few sheets I've seen images of, for whatever reason, the wrappers are offset from each other by column, so when the columns are cut into strips and rolled, if the cut is off, you get the black registration bars on both sides of the wrapper, usually one near the top and the other near the bottom. Here is an example sheet to show what I'm talking about...
(https://live.staticflickr.com/65535/50878777162_d54e508234_o.jpg)
This is exactly the kind of careful sleuthing that's so cool. I bought into the extra black bar too originally, until seeing this uncut sheet photo. Totally exposes the cause of the bar. Cool catch!
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This is exactly the kind of careful sleuthing that's so cool. I bought into the extra black bar too originally, until seeing this uncut sheet photo. Totally exposes the cause of the bar. Cool catch!
Thanks. If I have info that is useful, I try to pass it on and help the hobby knowledge base.