Sweet 16

[Paul_Maul]

This is what 55 untouched 16th series complete sets with puzzle look like!

Evidently shortly after the 16th series came out a comic book store in South Jersey opened one or two cases and tried to sell the complete sets for $3. For reasons I cannot comprehend, a youngster kept buying set after set and this is the result. At least that is the story that was given.

A find Greg was involved in, and has now OK’d me to mention publicly.

People should be aware if buying 16ths of this significant increase in overall supply!

[Corndog]

So I am confused....are you trying to imply prices for series 16 should go down, based on one smart kids' investment?

I applaud this kids' ability to hoard such a gold mine.

[Pupsi-Cola]

So I am confused....are you trying to imply prices for series 16 should go down, based on one smart kids' investment?

I applaud this kids' ability to hoard such a gold mine.

Gold Mine is an understatement, IMO this collector won the Bronze, Gold, and Silver at the Olympics.

[Paul_Maul]

So I am confused....are you trying to imply prices for series 16 should go down, based on one smart kids' investment?

I applaud this kids' ability to hoard such a gold mine.

Market forces are what they are.

[sco(o)t]

So, what I gather standard operational procedure should be, from years of studying ebay listings of Wacky and Wacky adjacent items, is to list one set. Mark it as a rare, incredible find... the last one known to exist. Then 3 months later, list another set using the exact same listing. Rinse and repeat.   

[drono]

What's the guestimate on the value of the unopened case in today's market?

[Paul_Maul]

What's the guestimate on the value of the unopened case in today's market?

My ballpark estimate would be $200K.

[jleonard1967]

Sort of what happened with Shedd's. They are still going to be desirable, just the people who want full sets are coming far and few between. 

[MoldRush]

So I am confused....are you trying to imply prices for series 16 should go down, based on one smart kids' investment?

I applaud this kids' ability to hoard such a gold mine.

55 sets sounds like a lot at first, but I’m sure the playing field of hobbyists could easily absorb them without prices being affected too much.  On the other hand, some may be thinking of unloading their collections as they approach their 60s and beyond, so who knows.  I like the 16th, but never saw it back in the day so without the nostalgic pull I couldn’t justify sinking $3,000 into a set.

[MoldRush]

From the photo it looks like the number of puzzle pieces is roughly equal for each position, not what I would expect.

[JailOJohn]

The question is…is the kid selling? I agree with Mold Rush..i have never been able to justify $2,000-$3,000 for a set of 16th series. Is this gold mine just now being uncovered? I will be curious to see if prices come down…there are probably only so many collectors willing to shell out for a set…

[DrSushi]

This is what 55 untouched 16th series complete sets with puzzle look like!

Evidently shortly after the 16th series came out a comic book store in South Jersey opened one or two cases and tried to sell the complete sets for $3. For reasons I cannot comprehend, a youngster kept buying set after set and this is the result. At least that is the story that was given.

Incredible!

[Paul_Maul]

It's scary to think that you'd need 200k to buy one box of 16's! Roxanne used to sell them for $40 bucks in the early 90s. Whoever bought those is sitting on a goldmine.

The question was for a case, which is 24 boxes. So a box would be more in the $10-15K vicinity.

[Paul_Maul]

From the photo it looks like the number of puzzle pieces is roughly equal for each position, not what I would expect.

They were bought as complete sets with puzzle. So presumably the guy who built the sets had a lot of leftovers.

[Paul_Maul]

The question is…is the kid selling? I agree with Mold Rush..i have never been able to justify $2,000-$3,000 for a set of 16th series. Is this gold mine just now being uncovered? I will be curious to see if prices come down…there are probably only so many collectors willing to shell out for a set…

One of the sets is on eBay right now, and two others have already been sold. In addition, several sets were sold to Greg prior to the original owner starting to sell them on his own.

[Paul_Maul]

55 sets sounds like a lot at first, but I’m sure the playing field of hobbyists could easily absorb them without prices being affected too much.  On the other hand, some may be thinking of unloading their collections as they approach their 60s and beyond, so who knows.  I like the 16th, but never saw it back in the day so without the nostalgic pull I couldn’t justify sinking $3,000 into a set.

I’m not sure about that. Most of those who are willing to pay the going rate likely already have one.

[Swiski]

I'm still holding a grudge that Abrams never published the 15th and 16th series in that second book. Looks like the best art scans were used for those books too. We never saw the 16th series in my neck of the woods and there's no way Topps is going to reprint those. They get overlooked with every reprint set.

[JailOJohn]

It looks like he is asking $2,000 for a set, includes puzzle but no Scoot variant…which is a fair market price, especially with puzzle…

[MoldRush]

I’m not sure about that. Most of those who are willing to pay the going rate likely already have one.

You’re probably right, those in the hobby a long time now likely have a set if they were determined to acquire one.  I’m sure many who got in early also benefitted from much lower prices as demand was less at the time.  I was thinking more about those who only returned to the hobby in say the past 5-10 years, who may have seen the price holding steady at $2,500 to $3,000 and were hesitant to pull the trigger at that price point.  It’s hard to get a real sense of the size of this community, when you consider newcomers, those interested enough in the hobby but not necessarily inclined to join a forum, those who were once hobby stalwarts but have quietly disappeared, etc.

[mikecho]

I'm still holding a grudge that Abrams never published the 15th and 16th series in that second book. Looks like the best art scans were used for those books too. We never saw the 16th series in my neck of the woods and there's no way Topps is going to reprint those. They get overlooked with every reprint set.

If you'd like to know my thoughts on the subject, Swiski, please look up my post "The third Abrams Wacky Packages book" in General Wacky Packages discussion. If you don't want to, however,  that's okay too.

[Swiski]

If you'd like to know my thoughts on the subject, Swiski, please look up my post "The third Abrams Wacky Packages book" in General Wacky Packages discussion. If you don't want to, however,  that's okay too.

I do follow that thread, hoping someone from Abrams will read it and see the need to produce a 3rd edition. I still think the reason Series 15 and 16 were not included in the book is because they couldn't get proper art scans. Same reasoning why Topps never reproduced most series 15 and 16 titles in Flashback, Chrome and all other reprint sets. Maybe those original art pieces are lost forever. I've never seen many come up before in auctions.

[mikecho]

I do follow that thread, hoping someone from Abrams will read it and see the need to produce a 3rd edition. I still think the reason Series 15 and 16 were not included in the book is because they couldn't get proper art scans. Same reasoning why Topps never reproduced most series 15 and 16 titles in Flashback, Chrome and all other reprint sets. Maybe those original art pieces are lost forever. I've never seen many come up before in auctions.

Thanks for following it! So, what do you think of all of my suggestions for the third book? Do you like them?

[Swiski]

Thanks for following it! So, what do you think of all of my suggestions for the third book? Do you like them?

Yes. Maybe even the 3rd book content would be the 15th & 16th series, the 1985 and 1991 sets, and of course the omissions from the first book, which would be the Die-Cuts and Wacky Ads. ANS and modern sets could be featured in 4th and 5th books. Again, this is me dreaming and just wishful thinking. LOL!

[Plastered Peanut]

We never saw the 16th series in my neck of the woods and there's no way Topps is going to reprint those. They get overlooked with every reprint set.

19 of the 30 titles were in the 1979 reprints, and two more titles (Tipsy and Dirtycell) appeared in Flashback 2.

[Swiski]

19 of the 30 titles were in the 1979 reprints, and two more titles (Tipsy and Dirtycell) appeared in Flashback 2.

Really? I guess I didn't notice. 16th had some obscure titles and products like Similecch and Gillo Port. It seems like Topps like to reprint the first few series over and over and over and over again.

[mikecho]

19 of the 30 titles were in the 1979 reprints, and two more titles (Tipsy and Dirtycell) appeared in Flashback 2.

Real Garbage Can-dy was also included in Flashback 2.

[Fanatical_and_Sickly]

Real Garbage Can-dy was included, too.

That’s one of the 19 reprint titles, which is why it’s not relevant that it’s in Flashback 2

[mikecho]

That’s one of the 19 reprint titles, which is why it’s not relevant that it’s in Flashback 2

I think the year on it says '76.

[Paul_Maul]

I think the year on it says '76.

The year on what?

[mikecho]

The year on what?

(Image removed from quote.)

The Flashback 2 sticker.

[Paul_Maul]

The Flashback 2 sticker.

All the flashback stickers have the original year of issue. Why is that relevant here?

[MoldRush]

19 of the 30 titles were in the 1979 reprints, and two more titles (Tipsy and Dirtycell) appeared in Flashback 2.

I thought that statement didn’t sound right either.

A number of years ago, after The Gallery came out in 2000, out of curiosity I did a study on how much of each series was reprinted from 1979 through 1982 only.  ANS/Flashbacks were still years away and I don’t think the 86 albums reprinted anything for the first time from OS 1-16.  Conversely the 82s did include several first-time reprints.

I don’t have the results on hand, but believe it or not, the most UNDER-represented series of them all is Series 9.  Only about 10 or 11 reprinted if I remember correctly.

[Paul_Maul]

I thought that statement didn’t sound right either.

A number of years ago, after The Gallery came out in 2000, out of curiosity I did a study on how much of each series was reprinted from 1979 through 1982 only.  ANS/Flashbacks were still years away and I don’t think the 86 albums reprinted anything for the first time from OS 1-16.  Conversely the 82s did include several first-time reprints.

I don’t have the results on hand, but believe it or not, the most UNDER-represented series of them all is Series 9.  Only about 10 or 11 reprinted if I remember correctly.

Interesting. I must say series 9 is one of the least memorable original series to me, so not completely surprising.

[mikecho]

All the flashback stickers have the original year of issue. Why is that relevant here?

I was saying that Real Garbage Can-dy's Flashback 2 sticker said '76. You showed the wrong sticker in your picture as your example, which is apparently from one of the four reprint series. Also, there are at least three stickers from the 16th Series in the Flashbacks: Dirtycell, Tipsy Roll Pop and Real Garbage Can-dy. The third one wasn't mentioned before by Plastered Peanut in his post.

I've modified my previous post as well. Sorry if I wasn't too clear in it.

[Paul_Maul]

I was saying that Real Garbage Can-dy's Flashback 2 sticker said '76. You showed the wrong sticker in your picture as your example, which is apparently from one of the four reprint series. Also, there are at least three stickers from the 16th Series in the Flashbacks: Dirtycell, Tipsy Roll Pop and Real Garbage Can-dy. The third one wasn't mentioned before by Plastered Peanut in his post.

I've modified my previous post as well. Sorry if I wasn't too clear in it.

I ask again: what is the relevance of the Flashback sticker saying ‘76? The discussion was which 16ths had been reprinted. Garbage Candy was one of them. What else about it matters?