Remember gum stains on Topps cards? I'm sure you younger players don't.
I started my collecting career with 1985 Topps. There's nothing special about this Gorman Thomas card, except for the stain on the back. Although my overactive imagination makes me believe that I can detect a faint aroma of 30-year-old gum on the back of this card, the stain is most likely due to wax from the wrapper. It's more than just a stain, there is actually a waxy feel to the stain.
Why did Topps package cards in waxed paper anyway?
I'd guess waxed paper was an economical, reasonably effective way of packaging cards back in the days when they were still a "fun" thing that kids flipped, put in bicycle spokes, etc.
ReplyDeleteIt took the cardmakers a while to come up with something different when we all started looking for plastic sleeves and cardholders to keep our new acquisitions looking "perfect."