wackypackages.org
wackypacks.com
wackypacks.org

Wacky Packages
Vintage Series Back Variations (1973-1975)


  • Five vintage series (1st, 2nd, 3rd, 13th, 14th) came with multiple backs.
    • There are:
      • White Backs (1st-3rd, 13th-16th)
      • Tan Backs (1st-14th)
      • Black Ludlow Backs (1st-2nd)
      • Red Ludlow Backs (1st-2nd)
      • Tri-Fold Tans (14th series only)
    • Picture Gallery

  • At the beginning Topps started with white back sticker stock. Sometime near the end of the 1st series they reordered sticker stock but with tan backing.
    • They also found a small stack of sticker stock with camels on the back, which came in both black and red versions (called "Ludlows")

  • So there were four different backs for the 1st series (White, Tan, Black Ludlow, Red Ludlow) and same for the 2nd series.
    • Ludlows are rare, red more so than black.

  • By the 3rd series they were out of Ludlow paper, so 3rds come only as White or Tan.
    • And they were nearly out of White stock, 3rd Whites are quite rare, most are Tan.

  • They would continue with only Tan stock through series 12. Then at the very end of 13th they ordered White back stock again.
    • 13th Whites are the rarest of all back variations

  • 14th series is a mix of White and Tan. Tans are a bit tougher than Whites.

  • Curiously 14th also has so-called "tri-folds" which are tan but have two lines across the backs. Tri-folds are rare.
    • So 14th has three variations.

  • OPC (the Canadian releases) ran opposite to the Topps versions. 1st Whites are rare and 1st Tans are common. And 3rd Tans are rare and 3rd Whites are common.
    • 2nd and 4th came only as tans.
Series
Scans
Availability
Topps
1st Series
White
Common
Tan
Rare
Black Ludlow
Rare
Red Ludlow
Very Rare
2nd Series
White
Common
Tan
Common
Black Ludlow
Rare
Red Ludlow
Rare
3rd Series
Tan
Common
White
Very Rare
13th Series
Tan
Common
White
Extremely Rare
14th Series
Tan
Common
White
Common
Tri-Fold
Rare
O.P.C.
1st Series
OPC
Tan
Common
White
Rare
3rd Series
OPC
Tan
Rare
White
Common
  
Series
White
  Tan  
Black
Ludlow
Red
Ludlow
Tri-
 Fold 
Topps
1st
X
X
X
X
2nd
X
X
X
X
3rd
X
X
4th
X
5th
X
6th
X
7th
X
8th
X
9th
X
10th
X
11th
X
12th
X
13th
X
X
14th
X
X
X
15th
X
16th
X
O.P.C.
1st OPC
X
X
2nd OPC
X
3rd OPC
X
X
4th OPC
X