1968 Topps Test

1968 Topps Test

				Low	Ave	High					Low	Ave	High
			R	5	7_OC	8				R	5	7_OC	8
	Complete Set (22)		1	15000	20000	32000		Common Player		4	500	600	800

1	Wilt Chamberlain		2	2500	3250	5000	12	Earl Monroe (TR)		3	500	700	800
2	Hall Greer (TR)		2	600	700	1000	13	Nate Thurmond (TR)		3	500	700	800
3	Chet Walker (TR)		3	500	600	700	14	Jim King (TR)		3	500	700	900
4	Bill Russell		2	2000	2750	4000	15	Len Wilkens (TR)		3	600	800	900
5	John Havlicek (TR)		2	1000	1200	1750	16	Bill Bridges (TR)		3	500	700	800
6	Cazzie Russell (TR)		2	600	700	800	17	Zelmo Beaty (TR)		2	800	1200	1500
7	Willis Reed (TR)		3	500	700	800	18	Eglin Baylor		3	1000	1500	1800
8	Bill Bradley (TR)		2	700	800	900	19	Jerry West		2	1700	2500	3500
9	Odie Smith (TR)		3	600	700	800	20	Jerry Sloan (TR)		3	500	700	800
10	Dave Bing (TR)		3	600	700	800	21	Jerry Lucas		2	1000	1200	1500
11	Dave Debusschere (TR)		2	1000	1400	1700	22	Oscar Robertson		2	1500	2000	2500
Size							Stock		Cardboard
Front		Black and white action or portrait photograph					Back		A single puzzle piece of what is ultimately a picture of Wilt Chamberlain dunking
Total #		Roughly 200 in existence					Numbering		Yes, on the back.
Distribution Method		Unkown. Expected to be a pitch to management to create a basketball card set.					Other

The 1968 Topps Test set is probably the most widely known non-mainstream basketball set. At publication, PSA had graded only 78 of these elusive cards. However, research has shown that about 200 Topps Test cards exist.

1968 Topps Test basketball only surfaced to the public in the early 1990s when a lot of roughly 80 cards were discovered. A second lot of 93 cards was discovered in 2001 by the son of a Topps executive. This second lot contained 3 complete sets and a slew of singles. Between the two finds a few small groups of roughly 20 cards were discovered. Although not as rare as some people think, the 1968 Topps Test cards are sometimes thought of as the holy grail of non-mainstream basketball cards. Even though this is untrue, the set does hold the true rookie cards to many superstars. For example, John Havelicek’s true basketball rookie card resides in this set.

Even though these cards are in black and white, I like the look. The pictures are actually from press photos released by the player’s respective teams. More spectacular, however, is the fact that the backs of the 22 cards can be combined to form a picture Wilt Chamberlain dunking.

As shown, these cards only recently became made available at a decent level. In fact, in the mid 1990s two of the cards were not even thought to have been produced. Particularly, if you looked in a mid-1990 basketball price guide then you would have seen “not produced” next to number 1 (Chamberlain) and number 4 (Russel).

There are many rumors that surround this set. Although some of the rumors may be true, some are just too good to believe (e.g., one major dealer boasts to have an uncut sheet tucked away). One true story is that one of the first sets bought was bought by a dealer for $195 at a National in the early 1990s for $195. The set was being sold as “a poster of Wilt Chamberlain dunking.”

In 2003, Sports Cards Plus sold a set for $28,000. These cards are so rare and popular that pricing will not differ much with condition. For example, a PSA 7 Jim King sold for $800 in 2003.

Chamberlain Dunking

1968 Topps Test


1. Chamberlain	□	2. Greer	□	3. Walker	□	4. B. Russel	□

5. Havilcek	□	6. C. Russel	□	7. Reed	□	8. Bradley	□

9. Smith	□	10. Bing	□	11. DeBusschere	□	12. Monroe	□

13) Thurmond	□	14) King	□	15) Wilkens	□	16) Bridges	□

17. Beaty	□	18. Baylor	□	19. West	□	20. Sloan	□

21. Lucas	□	22. Robertson	□

Content May Not Be Duplicated Without the Express Written Permission of Jeffrey D. Mullen