General Forum

I know the 1953 and 1954 Topps Archives pictured the players from the original '53 and '54 set.

When did the Topps Archives stop producing the "originals" and start putting current players on vintage card designs?

I believe current players were first present in 2012. The only other two "Topps Archives" sets in between there were in 2001 and 2002, but used former players. 

I miss the 'previous' versions of topps archives...I think liscensing to the retired players/players families became more challenging after 2002

mark

So 2001 and 2002 where the only other "true" archive versions released. Shame, I liked them too. Even the FB versions.

2001-02 Archives were just reprints of old cards. The 2003-05 All Time Fan Favorites were the first to use old card designs with previously unused archive photos of former players. The current Archives still mix current and retired players; it’s Heritage that’s all current players.

You might say the “first” Archive-type cards were the 1991 Topps Magazine inserts that featured current players on old card designs. I can’t think of an earlier release by Topps mimicking a previous design. https://www.tradingcarddb.com/ViewSet.cfm/sid/33445/1991-Topps-Magazine

https://www.tradingcarddb.com/CollectionSummary.cfm/sid/9092?CollectionID=6

there’s also this set in 91

Topps reprinted the 1952 set in 1983.

https://www.tradingcarddb.com/ViewSet.cfm/sid/70928/1983-Topps-1952-Reprint