April 3, 2025: Spring Auction
This lot is closed for bidding. Bidding ended on 4/3/2025
This is an exceptional old-fashioned auction lot of mostly 1971 Topps Hockey, a pristine group of cards in blazing, Near-Mint to Mint condition and a few below, with razor-sharp corners, amazing color and gloss and a pedigree boasting the “Vending Bend” that so eloquently bespeaks of uncirculated cardboard. A sterling group of Hall of Famers headlines the 1971 array, joining smaller sections of similar credentials from 1976-79, along with a couple of the Glossy Inserts from 1976 and nearly a dozen of the 1980 Topps Team Stickers. The Hall of Fame lineup features many of the greatest stars from the 1970s, with names like Potvin, Smith, Esposito, Parent, Mikita, Sittler, Dryden, Ratelle, Gillies and many more, along with a sprinkling of Specials. In the listing that follows, the cards mentioned are the player’s regular-issue Topps or Fleer card unless otherwise indicated. Here’s the breakdown: 1) 1971 Topps (103) – with 16 Hall of Famers, including Ullman (3), Martin (2), Ratelle (2), Delvecchio, Cashman, Mahovlich, Harris, Shack, Sanderson, Bucyk, Gilbert and Goldsworthy, plus four Checklists and a No. 3 League Leader (Orr); 2) 1976 Topps (11) – including Potvin, Smith, Lapointe, and Gillies, plus Nos. 2 and 6 League Leaders; 3) 1977 O-Pee-Chee (3) – with Tony Esposito and Parent o/c; 4) 1978 Topps (10) – with seven HOFers, including Dryden (st), Mikita, Sittler, Smith, Salming, Lapointe and Tony Esposito; 5) 1979 Topps (23) – with six HOFers, including Phil Esposito, Ratelle, McDonald, Mikita, Lapointe and Gillies, plus four League Leaders and six Specials; 6) 1976 Topps Glossy Inserts (2) – Resch and Martin; and 7) 1980 Topps Team Stickers (11) – including Canadiens (4), Blackhawks (2), Bruins, Nordiques, Canucks, Sabres and Rangers.
1970s Topps High-Grade Hockey Group, 36 HOFers (163)
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