Crossed a huge Topps test issue off my Gary Carter PC list today

[Kid4hof03]

Today I received one of the last items I have been missing for my Gary Carter PC. 1988 Topps test issue doubleheaders, the 1989 Mets/Yankees set is hard enough to find but this one has been nearly impossible for me. Sorry for the bad scan, shows the "card" and the wrapper

 

[Yanks2151]

Does it say test issue? How can you tell the difference between a regular issue?

 

[JoshHamilton]

Awesome pickup, Abe!

I like how the wrapper says Mets and Yankees, yet it pictures Carter with the Expos. Topps' ineptitude goes way back

 

[Kid4hof03]

There was not a set of these released in 1988. According to the standard catalog, 4 "proofs" were prepared from the Yankees and the Mets: Carter, Darling, Strawberry, Gooden, Henderson, Mattingly, Righetti and Winfield. They were never released. When the "test" set was released in 1989 they showed the players rookie with a 1989 topps card on the reverse rather than a 1988. The 1989 was considered a "test issue" because it was only released in the New York area, not nationwide.

 

[Yanks2151]

Ohh, I see. I was a year off. It's cool you have the wrapper with Carter as well. I just watched a Youtube video of a Gary Carter signing. The guy videoing was such a jerk to Carter. RIP Gary. Abe good stuff man!