When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
1973 Topps Wacky Packages 5th Series Blue 85-Fold Wax Pack – GAI 6.5 – Authentic Unopened
Offered here is an original 1973 Topps Wacky Packages 5th Series Blue 85-Fold Wax Pack, professionally authenticated and graded GAI 6.5.
The pack has been certified by GAI as Authentic Unopened and remains encapsulated in its original GAI holder.
More than 50 years old, this is an excellent surviving example from the early years of the original Wacky Packages phenomenon and an outstanding addition to a Wacky Packages, Topps or vintage unopened collection.
Collection Highlights
1973 Topps Wacky Packages
5th Series
Original blue wax wrapper
85-Fold wrapper
GAI Grade 6.5
Certified Authentic Unopened
Professionally encapsulated
Original vintage Topps issue
More than 50 years old
About Wacky Packages
Topps\' Wacky Packages became a pop-culture phenomenon during the early 1970s.
Rather than featuring athletes or traditional entertainment subjects, Wacky Packages used colorful and humorous artwork to parody familiar consumer products, packaging and advertising.
Their clever names, distinctive artwork and irreverent humor made Wacky Packages enormously popular with children and created a devoted collector following that continues more than five decades later.
Because the original packs were inexpensive products intended to be opened, peeled, traded and enjoyed, surviving authenticated unopened examples have become particularly interesting collectibles.
About the 1973 5th Series
The 5th Series was issued during the original Wacky Packages craze and consisted of 32 different sticker titles.
The series includes many memorable Wacky Packages parodies and represents one of the early releases from the classic original run.
Each pack also contained a checklist, and the nine different checklist backs could be assembled to create the Big Baddy puzzle.
Interestingly, three of the Big Baddy puzzle pieces were short printed, making those particular checklist backs somewhat more difficult to find.
The Nastee Crush Story
One of the most fascinating aspects of the 5th Series involves a planned sticker called Nastee Crush.
Nastee Crush was originally intended to be part of the 5th Series but was withdrawn before the series went into production.
Topps did not create an entirely new parody to replace it.
Instead, a second copy of Cram was placed in the vacant position on the printing sheet.
But there was a twist.
The original die-cut pattern intended for Nastee Crush was not changed.
As a result, Cram exists with two different die-cut shapes – the normal version and another version retaining the rectangular die-cut originally intended for Nastee Crush.
It\'s exactly the kind of unusual production story that makes the original Wacky Packages releases so fascinating to advanced collectors.
About the 85-Fold Wrapper
This pack features the 85-fold version of the original blue Wacky Packages wrapper.
Topps used different wrapper-fold configurations during the original Wacky Packages production run, and collectors today distinguish between the 85-fold and 21-fold wrapper styles.
These packaging differences have become a specialty collecting area of their own among advanced unopened Wacky Packages collectors.
This particular example has been identified and preserved as an original 5th Series Blue 85-Fold unopened pack.
GAI 6.5 – Authentic Unopened
This original wax pack has been professionally authenticated and encapsulated by GAI (Global Authentication Inc.).
GAI identifies the pack as:
1973 Topps Wacky Packages – 5th Series
and assigned the pack a grade of:
6.5
GAI also certified the pack as:
Authentic Unopened
The pack remains inside its GAI holder and has not been removed or altered.
Because the original pack remains unopened, no representation or guarantee is being made regarding the specific stickers or checklist contained inside.
Condition
Please review all photographs carefully for the exact condition of the original blue wax wrapper, folds, seams, GAI label and holder.
The exact GAI 6.5 authenticated unopened pack shown in the photographs is the item the buyer will receive.
The pack will remain exactly as encapsulated and will not be opened or removed from its holder.
Everything will be carefully packaged to help ensure safe arrival.
Why Collect Unopened Wacky Packages?
Original Wacky Packages were inexpensive children\'s collectibles intended to be opened and enjoyed.
That makes surviving unopened packs from the original 1970s run fundamentally different collectibles from individual stickers or completed sets.
Authenticated unopened examples preserve not only their unknown contents but also the original Topps packaging and collecting experience exactly as it existed more than five decades ago.
The 5th Series is particularly interesting because of its early place in the original Wacky Packages run, the Nastee Crush/Cram production story, Big Baddy puzzle and different wrapper configurations.
With its original blue 85-fold wrapper and GAI Authentic Unopened certification, this pack makes an excellent display piece for an advanced vintage non-sports or unopened Topps collection.
Thank you for your interest, and happy collecting!
