Lot # 564: 1990 Topps #383 John Morris - Rare Partial Blackless Variation - BGS NM-MT 8

Category: 1949-Present

Starting Bid: $100.00

Bids: 16 (Bid History)

Time Left: Auction closed


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Item was in Auction "Fall, 2020 Auction",
which ran from 11/13/2020 7:13 AM to
11/29/2020 7:43 AM



The 1990 Topps Frank Thomas "No Name On Front" (NNOF) card has long been considered a key rarity and a valuable card from the era. Some examples of the card were simply missing Thomas' name from the front of the card for some reason and it became a holy grail among modern collectors due to its rarity. Over time however collectors began to understand that the Frank Thomas card was not the only one impacted by the printing error. Twelve different cards adjacent to one another on the press sheet could be found with areas of black print missing from the card. While the error on the Thomas card was very clean simply obscuring his entire name other cards were missing the black printing only in specific areas. The working theory became that during the printing process a printing plate became damaged or dirty causing a thin swath of black to be obscured from the sheet. The problem was quickly discovered and cleared but not before some number of sheets were printed and the cards circulated. These "Partial Blackless" cards have become highly coveted among modern collectors and with the recent ascent in value of modern cards the vintage hobby is beginning to discover their scarcitty and value. This spring as many of us learned to cope with pandemic-related boredom by resuming old hobbies an Arizona collector rediscovered his 1990 Topps collection and was struck by the printing oddities he encountered in the box. As he reacquainted himself with the hobby he learned about the "Blackless" cards and after consulting with fellow hobbyists on message boards learned of their desirability. He submitted them for grading and we are fortunate to have received them on consignment. Presented here is a "Partial Blackless" card of John Morris graded NM-MT 8 by Beckett. The blackless area can be found at the top-right corner of the card where the black lines on either side of the green and red borders suddenly go missing. A small printing error for sure but one that is part of a much larger print error. We are pleased to be the first auction house to offer "Blackless" cards; a legitimate rarity highly coveted among modern collectors and increasingly acknowledged as important rarities throughout the hobby.

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