1968 Topps Visual Panographics Inc. 3-D Prototype Bart Starr (Blank Back) PSA Authentic - The Only PSA Example! ...

Description

1968 Topps Visual Panographics Inc. 3-D Prototype Bart Starr (Blank Back) PSA Authentic - The Only PSA Example! The same year that Tom Wolfe shook up the literary world with his famous volume, "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test," documenting Ken Kesey and his band of Merry Prankster's adventures with LSD and other psychedelics, the good folks at Topps were engaged in a far less controversial approach in opening doors of perception for its clientele. The offered relic represents a quantum leap forward in the field, providing a thoroughly "trippy" three-dimensional component through the burgeoning field of lenticular imagery.

There is no example from this utterly unique 3-D issue that is not properly filed under the heading of "rare," as only a tiny handful reached retail markets, sold in a select few candy stores within walking distance of the Topps company headquarters. But this particular specimen never even made it that far. It is one of two known football exemplars, the other gridiron specimen featuring New York Giants running back Tucker Frederickson, hardly a sports immortal on the level of Starr.

As you can see, this prototype card was an early stage in the evolution of a project that never came to fruition, bearing the facsimile signature of Baseball Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski rather than that of the legendary Green Bay Packers quarterback. Encapsulated PSA Authentic. Condition is splendid, with light corner touching the only factor that suggests a half-century+ of existence. We expect that collectors of trading card rarities will find strong competition from the fervent Green Bay Packers collecting demographic as bidding enters its final stages.

More Information: 1968 Topps 3-D Prototypes; A Hidden Treasure Resurfaces After Nearly Six Decades!

Offered here is one of the hobby's most fascinating and elusive creations: the experimental 1968 Topps 3-D prototype set. Produced in extremely limited numbers as part of Topps' test run with lenticular technology, these cards never advanced to full distribution and have long been a source of speculation and intrigue for collectors. What makes this particular offering so extraordinary is its provenance, acquired directly from a former Topps executive who safeguarded what may well be the entire array of prototypes produced at the time.

Since their creation in 1968, these cards have been hidden from the public eye, locked away for more than half a century. Each piece represents the forward-thinking innovation of Topps during a period of rapid change in the hobby, with bold photographic images given new life through the then-novel 3-D process. The prototypes encompass both stars and journeymen of the era, all presented in a format unlike any standard issue of the decade.

For collectors of Topps rarities, experimental issues, or hobby lore itself, this compilation stands as a once-in-a-generation find. Heritage Auctions is proud to bring these long-guarded treasures into the spotlight, offering a chance to own a cornerstone piece of Topps history that bridges innovation, rarity, and nostalgia.


Guide Value or Estimate: $15,000 - up.

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