General Forum

 Several cards are listed as "variations" because the word "Topps" on the back is in a darker color.   There are several others that have been missed.   I am betting that there these variations for every card in the set if they can be found.   I dont think these should be listed as "variations".   It is simply darker ink which probably occured for every card.     Just my opinion.

Maybe add this link to the set page:

https://junkwaxgems.wordpress.com/2011/06/26/1991-topps-baseball-errors-variations-ongoing-checklist/

It came to my attention this week that there are also Fleer variations from 1990-1992 with a missing dot after the A in U.S.A.  Looks like it's with the whole set, similar to the 1988-1992 Donruss variations.

I read the JunkWaxGems link. Maybe this dark logo "variation" should be listed as a parallel set. Just based on the A & B sheets mentioned by JunkWaxGems, there are at least 235 cards with this "variation".  If the dark logo "variation" can be found on cards from the other 4 sheets then I'd say it's a parallel not a variation.

 I've never collected it as a variation; just a poor quality control fact that was very common in these years by all card companies.  That is why those years have somany errors that Bob could tell us about, many we have never heard of as an error to most collectors.  But some will collect each variance; good for Bob!

If these get listed as a separate issue, then you might as well do the same with every card - each card is basically unique, with it's own ink levels, centering, etc.

 I agree with Vrooomed.   I wonder if anyone is making a set with all wax-stained backs from the pre-mylar days.

I think almost everyone is missing the point about the 1991 Topps baseball set. This was NOT an ink level printing issue.  This was intentionally done by Topps as a different back design.  It is known that it was done on the A & B sheets.  What's not known is if Topps limited it to just those two sheets and what quantities were produced.  That's why I said IF it can be found on cards from the C, D, E, & F sheets.  Then it is definitely a parallel set, not just a two-sheet, limited variation.

I personally prefer anything like this is done as a parallel, like the 1990 Topps Football disclaimer backs.  That way it isn't clogging up the checklist when people add their cards to their collections.  Even if it isn't a full parallel set, but a partial/skip-numbered one with only sheets A & B affected.  I think it makes for a neater appearance on the site if they are separate checklists.  Also, people who aren't interested can just enter card #167 as card #167 in the base set regardless of the variation.

I should add that I'm only referring to widespread instances of variations, where each card has the same variation (darker logo, Donruss factory set inverted backs, etc.).  Not a variation that only involves one card in the set, like a traditional error card.  There is a place for this stuff.  I just think that a parallel set is the way to go.