Soft Rock On

They Graded What?

Have you ever picked up an odd card here and there and then the next thing you know you have a full fledged "collection" on your hands? This has now happened to me after I bought these two graded cards for 50 cents. I call it my "They Graded What?" collection as it is entirely cards sent to be graded that really have no business being slabbed.

For those unfamiliar, FGS stands for Finest Grading Services which doesn't seem to be accepting cards anymore. Their web page doesn't give much detail other than an e-mail address and an address in California.

1974 Topps #436 Don Hood

1974 Topps #580 Jim Spencer

Before It Was "Mars Attacks" It Was "Attack From Space"

As I posted I'm slowly finally working towards a 1962 Mars Attacks set.  The set is of course a pricey one given that in 1962 most of the cards were pulled due to the outcry from the subject matter of the cards.  This makes one of the risque cards, #21, entitled "Prize Captive," as one of the most sought after cards.  Currently, there is one great version of the copy graded an 8 with an asking price of $757.  Here is the card:

But that is nothing compared to the most expensive Mars Attacks item out there.  It is a gum box which seems to be a prototype of the Mars Attacks set before it was even called "Mars Attacks."  At first the series was going to be called "Attack from Space" but you can clearly see it's the same old Martian enemy design.

This piece of cardboard has a price tag of $185,000.  Yes, you read that right.  For that amount maybe I'll just develop my own time machine and go back to 1962 to experience what "space adventure bubble gum" tasted like.

Rock On

Interrupting An Afternoon's Reading

The Kid

I don't have any great Gary Carter memories and so I'll keep it brief.  Simply put, here are some cards from my collection of The Kid.

2004 Donruss #WS-61 Gary Carter Bat Relic

2008 Topps Allen and Ginter World's Greatest Victories #8 Gary Carter and the '86 Mets

1976 Topps #441 Gary Carter

1986 Topps All-Star Set #23 Gary Carter

2011 Topps #T60-4 Gary Carter

1987 Kay Bee #8 Gary Carter

1988 Donruss All-Star Gary Carter Fold Out

A Short Term 2012 Topps Depression

Rock On

2012 Topps Mars Attacks 50th Anniversary Set Details

For quite some time I had listed in my "Short Term Collecting Goals" on the right side of the blog "any 1962 Mars Attacks card."  This was more of a reminder to do an eBay search every once in a while for card that fits my price range as copies of any of the cards in good condition are easily three figures and a very high graded copy can go for several hundred.  I'm happy to say that I finally pulled the trigger on two cards, one of which has arrived.

So here is "Washington In Flames" which is card #5 in the series:

Not the greatest condition but I didn't care too much as this is personally one of my cards from the set as I am a huge political junkie.  My favorite brief scene from the Tim Burton Mars Attacks! movie is relating to this card as well:



And all this was before Topps announced they are doing a 50th Anniversary of the Mars Attacks set.  Due in July, the set will mainly be a re-print of the original 55 cards plus 25 more cards, bring the series to 80.  At first I was a little more than frightened about those additional 25 cards given Topps reputation of not always playing things straight in terms of honoring the original subject.  I'm thinking of a card with a martian getting a pie in the face by a Marine.

But it sounds like Topps is treating the set with a lot of respect.  Ten of those 25 cards are actually based off sketches made from the original Mars Attacks artists that never made it into the set.  The other 15 cards are new creations by John McCrea who will be the illustrator on the new Mars Attacks comic book series.  I am also relieved that they are printing the cards on the same card stock as Heritage. 

I'll post my next Mars Attacks card when it arrives.

Rock On