The biggest problem with these Topps cards | Card Histories 

0:35 - no competition and yet Topps almost was bankrupted in 1969. Prior to that, Topps got off really cheap in player fees but that year, the union wised up and told Topps to greatly increase the fees or no more licensing. Topps didn't budge for a while and when they did settle, they didn't have many pics available to them as their photographers were shut out during the "card strike" So series 1 and 2 had to use old photos from years past or photoshopping....... The back of the cards were unique in that they had a protrait photo and only one year of stats on the back. Before grading, many of these cards got the black marker make over.

A little ware can add character to the card.

Great stuff! I enjoy the '71 set very much. I prefer the O-Pee-Chee cards more than the Topps. I just think the yellow backs are way more appealing.

Black ink does not make the card more susceptible to chipping and surface issues. They are no different to any other card. What is different, however, is that you can see it much more clearly. This alone makes me wonder how closely PSA is looking at those edges. If I have a card with light colored ink, it will still wear and chip at the same rate as the 1971 Topps, but you can't see it as well. But, under magnification, it should be obvious. Saying PSA grades only 3% of 1971's a 9 or 10 versus 15% on the others further reinforces for me that PSA is looking at eye appeal more than actual quality of the card. I don't have any 1971 Topps of my own, but I do have a complete set of 1986 Topps, which also has the black edges. My entire set looks crap despite being looked at maybe 3 times since I bought them new. When I compare them to my 1987 Topps set under magnification, they look pretty much the same in terms of edge and corner damage. But, because of the ink color, the 1986 just "look" much worse.

I love the 1971 design. That era of card manufacturing was amazing by Topps with different unique designs each year.

That was fun.

This set ranks with any set ever - I loved it. Thanks for the vid!

I've been going to card shows over 50 years and have given up buying the 71 Topps baseball cards raw. Reason being too many sleazy dealers are re-coloring the black borders.

Black Beauties. The first set I ever collected as an 11 year old in 71. Every dollar I had went to card packs. Still have the cards that I’ve upgraded over the years.

No different than restoring an old car and painting it black. It better have zero imperfections or it stand out like a sore thumb

I wonder how much that Blyleven PSA 10 would have went for if it was centered and not Diamond cut?

In 1971, topps redefined what a sports card can be.

Another awesome video

Love the 1971 set. 1962 Topps Football set was groundbreaking with the black borders. 1962 was a year of creativity with Topps using black borders for football, faux wood for baseball and the blue borders for hockey.

Great video

Love this channel love the card history

It’s crazy to know how poor quality the older products are don’t get me wrong some looks good but off center and a lot of white corners on black cards do stand out.

After a long absence and recently returning to the hobby, I thought it would be kinda cool to collect the set from the year I was born (1971). I quickly found out that it wasn't gonna be a cheap endeavor..lol

Haven’t checked but have to believe the 86 topps set with its black border design has low pop counts in its higher grades too

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