The Topps quality control (or lack thereof) of its pre-1980s issues is legendary; collectors looking to assemble high-grade sets of virtually any season wrestle with any number of print flaws, each conspiring to reduce the technical grade of every card.  Perhaps no two sets exemplify this better than 1974 and 1975.  Centering issues battle miscuts, fish-eyes, print snow, roller lines and tilts for the most egregious flaws; in the case of 1975, rich, colorful borders add the propensity for edge chipping, similar to that experienced with the notoriously condition-sensitive 1971 issue.

Presented here are complete sets from those two seasons.  Collection includes: 1) 1974 Topps Complete Set (660): Reasonably sharp midgrade example, grading 2% NM, 12% EX-MT, 47% EX, 30% VG-EX, 8% VG, with a few lesser.  Centering is the primary condition issue, along with some visible fish-eyes.  Cards have been handled but not abused.  Keys grade as follows: #1 Aaron (VG), #7 Hunter (EX), #10 Bench (VG/EX), #20 Ryan (VG/EX), #40 Palmer (VG), #50 Carew (VG), #55 F. Robinson (VG/EX), #60 Brock (EX), #80 Seaver (EX/MT), #85 Morgan (EX), #95 Carlton (VG/EX), #100 Stargell (EX), #130 Jackson (VG/EX), #160 B. Robinson (EX), #215 Kaline (EX), #250 McCovey (EX/MT), #283 Schmidt (EX), #300 Rose (EX/MT), #330 Marichal (EX), #350 Gibson (EX), #456 Winfield (EX). 2) 1975 Topps Complete Set (660): Well-handled, with more condition issues related to handling than the 1974 set listed above.  Technical grades 6% EX/MT, 14% EX, 29% VG/EX, 27% VG, 20% GOOD, 3% FAIR, and a few lesser.  Keys grade as follows: #50 B. Robinson (VG), #61 Winfield (EX), #70 Schmidt (VG), #80 Fisk (G), #100 Stargell (F), #150 Gibson (EX/MT), #180 Morgan (VG), #185 Carlton (F), #223 Yount (VG/EX), #228 Brett (P), #230 Hunter (VG), #260 Bench (VG/EX), #280 Yastrzemski (VG), #300 Jackson (VG), #320 Rose (VG), #335 Palmer (VG/EX), #370 Seaver (EX)#500 Ryan (G), #540 Brock (VG), #580 F. Robinson (EX), #600 Carew (VG/EX), #616 Rice (G - miscut), #620 Carter (VG/EX), #660 Aaron (VG/EX).  Two sets total.