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1963 Topps Astronauts 3-D Card # 55 Checklist (EX) Last-N-Set
Entertainment Trading Cards
Browse our store of Entertainment Trading Cards which features cards from the early 1900's.
Includes coverage for non-sport Topps, "Bubbles, Inc.", Fleer, Leaf, Goudey and other entertainment manufacturers.
1960s Entertainment Trading Cards
Another huge decade for Topps, the 1960s Entertainment Trading Cards lineup also includes popular sets from Donruss, Fleer, Leaf and Philadelphia Gum.
1963 Topps Astronauts 3-D Trading Card Set
1963 Topps Astronauts 3-D trading card set looks at the origins of American space travel. Featuring astronauts like John Glenn and Alan Shepard, the 55-card set highlights Project Mercury.
Product Details
1963 Topps Astronauts 3-D trading card set is a historical look at the beginning of the space travel in the United States. Long a topic of fantasy, the 1960s saw it become a reality. While the set focuses most prominently on the historical background of the space program, it also blends in elements of fantasy through illustrations used on the 3-D card backs.
The 55-card set looks at the Project Mercury program, which was the American side of the space race with the USSR. Running from 1959 to 1963, it saw the first Americans reach outer space and orbit the earth. Cards go relatively in depth, at least as far as a small set of trading cards can, into the key astronauts in the program, their training and the gear they used. In particular, Alan Shepard, John Glenn and Virgil Grissom figure prominently in the set. Scott Carpenter, Gordon Cooper, Walter Schirra and Donald Slayton are other astronauts to appear on the checklist. President John F. Kennedy is also on a card.
1963 Topps Astronauts 3-D trading card fronts are dominated by a photo. Most showing training exercises, although machines and astronaut portraits are also included in the artwork. The bottom of the card has a yellow box that holds a red headline caption and a short description. The corner of the box has a moon icon with the card number inside.
Card backs are very different. They have a 3-D illustration. They aren't focused so much on Project Mercury. Instead, they imagine some of the feats humans might be able to accomplish through space travel. It's a sci-fi turn for a set that is otherwise based in reality. A pair of 3-D glasses comes in every 1963 Topps Astronauts wax pack.
1963 Topps Astronauts trading cards also have "Popsicle" backs, which are a rare variation on the set. Instead of a 3-D image, the cards have a blue back with several space-themed illustrations like stars, planets and a rocket. The middle of the card includes an ad for Popsicles from the Joe Lowe Corporation. Popsicle Backs are more difficult to find than the 3-D backs and command a premium on the secondary market.
How We Grade:
GemMint (GMT): (10.0)A flawless card. To be in Gem Mint condition,a card’s borders must have a ratio of 50/50 side to side and top tobottom.
Mint(MT): (9.0-9.5)A perfect card. Well-centered with parallel borders which appearequal to the naked eye. Four sharp, square corners. No creases, edge dents,surface scratches, paper flaws, loss of luster, yellowing or fading, regardlessof age. No imperfectly printed cards – out of register, badly cut or ink flawed– or card stained by contact with gum, wax or other substances can beconsidered truly Mint, even if new out of the pack. Generally, to be consideredin Mint condition, a card’s borders must exist in a ratio of 60/40 side to sideand top to bottom.
NearMint/Mint (NM/MT): (8.0-8.5)A super high-end card thatappears Mint 9 at first glance, but upon closer inspection, may exhibit a veryslight wax stain on reverse, slight fraying at one or two corners, or a minorprinting imperfection. Centering must be app. 65/35 to 70/30 or better on thefront and 90/10 or better on the reverse.
NearMint (NM): (7.0-7.5)A nearly perfect card at first glance, butupon closer inspection, may have slight surface wear, slight fraying on somecorners, slightly out-of-register picture focus, a minor printing blemish orslight wax stain on reverse. Centering must be 70/30 to 75/25 or better on thefront and 90/10 or better on the reverse.
Excellent/NearMint (EX/NM): (6.0-6.5)Card may have visible surfacewear or a printing defect. A very light scratch. Corners may have slightlygraduated fraying. Picture focus may be slightly out-of-register. Card may haveminor wax stain on reverse, may have very slight nothing on edges. Centeringmust be 80/20 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.
Excellent(EX): (5.0-5.5)Corners are still fairly sharp with only moderate wear. Cardborders may be off center as much as 85/15. No creases. May have very minorgum, wax or product stains, front or back. Surfaces may show slight loss ofluster from rubbing across other cards. Dark bordered cards may have one or twosmall nicks.
VeryGood/Excellent (VG/EX): (4.0-4.5)Shows obvious handling, but stilllooks nice. Corners may be rounded or have minor creases. No major creases,tape marks or extraneous markings or writing. Surfaces does exhibit loss ofluster, but the printing is intact. May have paper wrinkles. May show majorgum, wax or other packaging stains. All four borders visible, though the ratiomay be as poor as 95/5. Exhibits honest wear.
VeryGood (VG): (3.0-3.5)A well-worn card, but exhibits no intentionaldamage or abuse. May be “Mis-cut or Off-Center” with no border visible. Mayhave major or multiple creases, however, creases are not so deep as to show theunderlying paper. This card is completely readable, has not been written on,and has no tape marks or holes. Corner rounding may extend well beyond theborder.
Good(GD) (2.0-2.5)Shows excessive wear, along with damage or abuse. Will show allthe wear characteristics of a Very Good card, along with such damage as thumbtack holes in or near margins, evidence of having been taped or pasted, perhapssmall tears around the edges or creases so heavily as to break the cardboard.Backs may show minor added pen or pencil writing or be missing small bits ofpaper. Still basically a complete card.
Poor(P): (1.0-1.5)A card that has been tortured to death. Corners or other areasmay be torn off. Card may have been trimmed, show holes from a paper punch orhave been used for BB gun practice. Front may have extraneous pen or pencilwriting, or other defacement. Major portions of front or back design may bemissing. Not a pretty sight.
