1966-67 Topps USA Test

1966-67 Topps USA Test #35 Bobby Orr RC
No, this isn't mine, but I bet it fetched six figures.

This was a subset of 1966-67 Topps, but manufactured later (some suggest well into the 1967-68 season). It was purportedly designed to once again test the American market independently. The wood grain is slightly lighter, there is no French on the back, most specimens are miscut in some way, and quantities were extremely limited. The set was reduced to 66 cards with no checklist, and may have even been largely given away for free, rather than sold in packs like other sets of the day.

Over on the Topps Archives, you'll find a much more complete story about this set, but even they seem to be guessing at some of the details. Regardless of the truth behind their origin, these cards are hard to find now, in any condition.

There are several Bobby Orr cards out there, but since that card commands $10K+ at minimum, it's not exactly at the top of my list.

I would love to have this entire team set, but I still consider my collection complete without the Orr card (seems convenient, but I really deem the true collection to be mainstream, commercially-available releases – more because that's reasonable than because I'm cheap). I have managed to grab all the other Bruins cards from this release, in PSA graded condition.

    Incomplete (8/9).

  • #3 Dallas Smith graded PSA 6 (mc)
  • #32 Ed Westfall graded PSA 4.5
  • #33 Ron Murphy graded PSA 2 (mc)
  • #35 Bobby Orr RC
  • #37 Ted Green graded PSA 6
  • #38 Tom Williams graded PSA 6
  • #39 Johnny Bucyk graded PSA 4
  • #64 Ed Johnston graded PSA 5
  • #66 John McKenzie graded PSA 5