1991-92 Future Trends Canada ’72 Hockey Forum

What do you think? Should the Gold Paint Autographs be separated into two inset sets? Swirl Pattern and non-swirl pattern?

The swirl pattern autographs were issued as pack inserts with a PR750 (36 cards). All swirl pattern cards are known.

Non-swirl autograph cards were issued in complete sets sold by the Hudson Bay Company (15 autographed cards per set) with a reported PR2500. Which cards were issued in the sets is not as well known. It has also been rumored that some non-swirl autographs cards were issued during promotional player signings at the Bay, since they were the exclusive retailer for the product. These cards are indistinguishable from set issued, as all cards are signed in the same gold paint ink. And just to make things a little more unclear, a "silver" paint autograph card of Frank Mahovlich (#26) also exists. It's origin is unknown, but it's common enough, and signed similar to the gold paint, that it likely has a specific source. 

So, should the swirl autographs be a separate (insert) set, or added as a VAR, or just left as it is now, noted.

Let me know what you think.

Due to the overwhelming response to this thread, the direction to take was clear. An Executive Decision would be necessary. It was therefore decreed to create two separate sets.

The Gold Paint Autographs have been separated into a pack issued "swirl" pattern set (36 cards) and a "non-coated" set issued/promotional card set.

The non-coated set includes the 15 autographed cards issued with complete sets sold by the Hudson Bay Company (see packaging), as well as those likely originating from promotional signing events at the stores. Set issued cards are identified in Note 2. Promotional autographs are signed with the same gold paint ink (as set issued) and in the same location on each card. As noted above, there is also silver paint Frank Mahovlich (#26).

If you have any of these cards in your collection (or wantlist), check to see which version you have (or want), and make sure it is assigned to the correct card in the database. 

Sometimes, you just have to take matters into your own hands. :)

Thanks for tackling this one.

How can I tell if a card has a ''swirl'' autograph card or simply a signed in gold card. I have many of these and would like to differentiate them to try and complete both sets. Thanks 

The finish on the card itself has a textured swirl to it. The scans here are tough to see it on, so I scanned the one I have and enlarged a portion so you can see what it looks like:

You can see it in the gold if this didn't have the swirls, the gold would be solid. You can see it best on the border.

wow thta's perfect, would't have never guessed that on my own! Thank you so much!!

I know this doesn't sound helpful, but it's one of those where if you had a "swirl" card in hand you would know it was a swirl. If you had both in hand you could easily tell them apart. As Dan indicated it's much tougher to see the difference from a scan.

I have two different #92 Guy Lapointe auto'd cards.  One has a gold auto, but its clearly in a different place on the card compared to the one listed on TCDB.  Is that "normal" for these cards ? The second one has a silver autograph...is there a missing checklist for silver autograph inserts ?

I'm not aware of a Guy Lapointe silver paint autograph issued as part of the "Hudson Bay set", but it could have been as there is a set issued silver paint autograph of Frank Mahovlich. There were 15 autographed cards per set but at least twenty different cards are known to be set issued, so the same cards were not in each set. It's also possible that it was from a promotional signing event that occurred during the product release, or was signed after market.

I attended an in-person signing at the Hudson Bay in downtown Vancouver when this set was released. Got Tretiak, Henderson, Hull, Stapleton, Bergman, Ellis and Goldsworthy to sign cards, plus "The Goal" photo.  Lucky to chat with these guys, as most others left the (really) long line.  Tretiak even signed my buddy's Lafleur autographed Habs jersey.  Great memories of that day.