True Wrapper Variations

I'm researching "penny packs" and it reminded me of several wrapper variations that exist and most collectors probably don't even know about them. I won't post a bunch today, but will post examples of one particular issue... the 1949 and 1950 Topps "Stop 'n Go" (License Plates) issue.

The 1949 'penny tab' version of "Cross Country Bubble Gum" (aka Stop Go). Notice the 1949 copyright.

Topps halted production of the 1949 small sized cards and issued them again in 1950 at a slightly larger size. "Auto Magic" 1 cent wrappers... these held the 1950 License Plates cards, but why Topps didn't add the "Stop 'n Go" title is a mystery! Top, no "1950"; bottom, with "1950". Also, notice the yellow background goes all the way into the indicia on the "1950" version (except for the '1 STICK').

Now, the 5 cent "Stop 'n Go" wrappers! First, a smaller wrapper with 1/2 oz gum.

Next, a larger version with (I think) 1/2 oz gum. Notice the "WT." ends over the "T" in PLATES.

Last, the larger version with 5/8 oz gum! Notice the "WT." ends over the "E" in PLATES.

Well now, that is THE question isn't it! I've seen Topps (as a company) proclaim (in trade magazines and official sales sheets) that they make 100's of cases for testing... I don't believe it for a minute, except for a few rare occasions like "Beatles" B&W and similar. But, then there are persistent rumors that some test issues were only tested with 2 or 3 boxes made! Again, I find that a little hard to believe as that wouldn't be much of a test would it? More realistic information usually came from Topps' employees like Len Brown. For example, he stated that "Mars Attacks!" was tested with only about 20 to 25 full sets... that would equate to about 10 to 12 full boxes (if packs contained 5 cards). I've seen other test sets stated as only having 20 to 30 sets produced as well, so I would guess the average test issue probably had 1 to 2 cases made. A case usually held 24 boxes back in the early sixties, so 24 to 48 boxes. That seems like a more realistic test number, but still rather on the low side to really test a product. Another persistent rumor is that Topps tested at just 2 or 3 Brooklyn candy stores. That might be true for a very small test with only a few boxes made, but surely would not have given Topps true information on how well a product would sell across different parts of the country.

I'll leave you with these two tantalizing bits that give a little insight into how much Topps tested with...

"The Beatles" dealer ad... read that first line!

Topps Ad from an industry trade magazine, March 1967 - note the last line of the first column and the first line of the second column! Also, note the "Nutty Tickets" test box and packs! Single tickets (not two ticket panels) were tested by themselves. They failed and became inserts in "32 Mini Stickers" packs in 1968! Also note the "King Kong" test cards, but no wrapper! Those planes in the lower right are believed to be "Fighter Planes", similar to "Flying Things".

In general, how many boxes of test packs were usually made?

Any idea?

Paul asked me about a couple of wrappers the other day which reminded me they are variations most collectors may not know about.

The first one is the test wrapper of "Topps Pak O' Fun". It is a heavy paper wrapper, not wax like the final retail version.

Test paper wrapper with no code and slightly different colors

Final retail wax wrapper

Test pack below...

The second one is the test version of "Real Movie Giant Pin-Ups". The test pack was clear cellophane and the test posters had a sticker (with the movie title) on the back. A piece of wrapped gum (plain white wrapper) was included in the pack. The only images I have are from the Wrapper article by Bob Marks... you can see the other side of the page on these images.

Clear cello pack with test poster

Back of pack showing gum pack

Test Display Box with 50 cent price and checklist covered by white sticker

Looks like it is 5. Pictures taken from the blue book.

Here is some info on where the knock-offs/bootlegs are from, and some additional ones.

First Taiwan bootleg from the late 1960's or early 1970's; Flying Skeleton wrapper with number (1-12) in square (Box unknown)

Taiwan bootleg, circa 1980's or 1990's; Item No. 8340; 12 different wrappers with number (1-12) in circle (Box labeled "FlyingThing"); "Des Choses Volantes" is French for "FlyingThings"

Taiwan bootleg, circa 1980's or 1990's; Item No. 8340 (AGE 4 AND UP); 12 different wrappers with number (1-12) in circle (Box labeled "FlyingThing")

China bootleg, circa 1980's or 1990's; (AGE 4 AND UP); 12 different wrappers with number (1-12) in circle (Box labeled "Funny Glider"); one subject "Bear Rocket" not in any U.S. or Taiwan release

China bootleg, circa 1980's or 1990's; (WARNING: CHOKING HAZARD Small parts Not for children under 3 years) 12 different wrappers with number (1-12) in circle (Box labeled "Funny Glider"); one subject "Bear Rocket" not in any U.S. or Taiwan release

Playing Mantis Reissue 1995; 12 different wrappers with number (1-12) in circle, "SCHMOHAWK" renamed "EAGLE HAWK", "HANDS BRINKER" renamed "HAND-SOME-THING"

FlyingThings (Christmas), knock-off; circa ?; 6 different wrappers and subjects

Flying Halloween Things knock-off; circa ?; 4 different wrappers and subjects

Flying Fools knock-off; circa ?; number of subjects and wrappers unknown

Christmas Gliders

Santa's Sleigh Poly Glider

Asian knock-offs

Since we have moved on to knock off stuff, here is my contribution.

Here are more different issues of Flying Things. The left side are all from one issue (1988?). The top right two are a different issue with a light blue. Then the next two are Garbage Gliders and of course the cello (1985?) issue bottom right. There is also another Flying Things issue in plastic rather than the older issues on paper.

I am wondering if Garbage Gliders was in response to the Garbage Pail Kids craze?

Do you mean this one?

I agree they are a wrapper misprint. For whatever that is worth. I wouldn’t go as far to call them a variation. I wish we saved the picture of the laugh in pack color variation we discussed a few months ago. That one was crazy different looking.

What does everybody think about the printing variation "error" wrappers. This is a common thing advertised on eBay - for example with A Team.

True error or not?

regular

"error"

Another wrapper variation - 1971 Donruss Ticky Tacky Tattoos with "3 Exciting tattoos" and without.

Outstanding Lonnie, you truly deserve a standing ovation supplying all of this priceless information.

Paul asked about other variations similar to the "Jaws 2" and "Gremlins" variations. I will have to do some research, but it seems like I remember one or two other similar occurrences. In the meantime, one last (for today) variation many may not know about.

I'm sure many of you have (or want) a "Davy Crockett" 5 cent pack/wrapper in your collection, but did you know there are two different 5 cent wrappers? There is an exceedingly rare 5 cent repeater that looks just like the 1 cent repeater. I firmly believe it was used for testing as the final 5 cent may not have been ready yet or not approved by Disney at the time of testing (just my hypothesis), but either way, almost impossible to find!

Here are a couple more variations for you...

Topps "Snotty Signs", no, not the stickers, the small signs to hang in your car window! There are three variations of the wrappers. The first release (most likely the test release) had signs that were found to be objectionable and Topps decided to replace them. The second release contained the same wrappers but with some signs blacked-out by hand on the wrapper back checklist... even though the "objectionable" signs could still be found in the packs! The third release (retail) had a new wrapper with the "objectionable" signs replaced on the checklist and in the packs. Several signs were replaced for retail.

I don't have a good image of the first release wrapper with no markings... below is the second release with some signs blacked-out. What is interesting is that not all of the signs that would be replaced were blacked-out. The sign in the upper left corner of the checklist is "School Sucks" and was replaced by final retail.

The final retail wrapper is below and you can see that "School Sucks" has been replaced with "School Really Stinks".

The following signs were replaced and the originals are fairly scarce.

1 School Sucks - replaced with School Really Stinks

4 Caution: Smart A_ _ Inside - replaced with Caution: Smart Kid Inside

11 Date In Bed - replaced with Pass Gas on Left

14 Horny Child Inside - replaced with Homework Copied Here

19 Dad's Drunk Again - replaced with Hold Nose When Passing

23 Gone To School (damn it) - replaced with Gone To School (darn it)

It also appears that signs 21 and 22 swapped numbers, so may be found with either number (if numbered on back... I can't remember if they were and cannot find any back images).

The next variation is so rare, the only image I've ever seen was in the Benjamin guides. "Jets" was apparently tested under the name "Fighting Planes". Below is the 1 cent wrapper.

A few of you had never heard of the "Gremlins" variation, so here is a little background...

The story goes that Topps and Ralston Purina made a deal to cross promote on "Gremlins". Topps would leave out stickers in packs distributed in parts of the country where Ralston was distributing their "Gremlins" cereal, that had a Topps' "Gremlins" sticker inside... kids would buy the gum packs and the cereal trying to complete their set.

Below is the cereal box and sticker. The stickers were cello wrapped, so if you have come across "Gremlins" stickers in a cello pack and wondered where they came from... wonder no more.

That’s great info about the folding process.

Mike asked me a question about wrappers where I indicated the indicia was either on top or on the side, and I thought it might be a good idea to post the answer here also in case some of you are not aware.

Topps employed two different types of machines to fold and package their packs... one type used primarily for 1 cent packs (or thin packs like stickers) and the other type for 5 cent packs (and most oversize packs as well). I have thus nick-named the wrapper folds as "penny fold" and "nickel fold" for obvious reasons. Now, we get to the wrapper variations... When Topps had a huge seller on their hands, like "Batman", "The Beatles", "Wacky Packages", "Partridge Family", etc., they put everything they had into production to meet demand. This included both types of wrapping machines, thus, the need for different wrapper layouts. The "penny fold" packs usually had the indicia (copyright, ingredients, etc.) at the top of the wrapper. The pack was folded (straight folds) with the long sides in first, then the top and bottom folded (again straight folds) in over the side folds and sealed horizontally in two places, top and bottom. The "nickel fold" packs had the indicia at the left or right side, the top and bottom were folded first (straight folds), with the long sides folded over the top and bottom (angled folds), and one center seal running vertical. The commodity codes had different numbers (the two digits in the third section) for each wrapper type; by about 1973, Topps standardized the codes to just two different ones... '21' for the "nickel fold" layout and '85' for the "penny fold" layout. Here are the "Partridge Family" wrappers/packs to illustrate the differences. I used the "Partridge Family" because it is one of the only ones I know of where the indicia is on a side for both fold types!

1st Series 0-490-87-01-1 on left / 2nd Series 0-490-86-01-1 on right

1st Series - "nickel fold"