Chris Benjamin's Non-Sport Guide mentions the 1957 Topps Robin Hood cards as being distributed in 500 count vendor boxes, presumably in the old style vending box we have all become accustomed to seeing ('62 baseball vending box scan shown below-note the TCG shield on it).

I am advised Elvis in '56 was also issued in vending boxes. Was Elvis the first standard sized Topps set? I believe Round up was the last of the larger sized cards.

Larger size '56 Topps issues were: Round-Up, Flags of the World, Davy Crockett (all 2 5/8" x 3 3/4") and U.S Presidents (Bowman "larger" size of 2 1/2" x 3 3/4" was used, the set was a reissue of a 52 Bowman series). In addition,we have Hocus Focus at 1" x 1 5/8" balancing the smaller end of the spectrum, plus the 2 1/16" x 2 15/16" Jets set (a size Topps sometimes used).

A wide variety of sizes, no doubt aided and abetted by use of Bowman equipment and inventory after they were purchased by Topps. Which ones had vending boxes and which did not? Did vending boxes even exist for the larger cards?

hi dave- i have seena a vending box of 1953 wings, a plain white box, cards fit perfectly, so i assume it was the real deal box, i could be wrong, but the cards also looked vending "like", whatever that means.

Marty-I know exactly what you mean--that distinctive Zebra Stripe pattern!

A coin dealer friend of mine from Decatur came up with a small find (handful) of 1956 Topps football in vending boxes 15+ years ago.

The earliest one I can recall is a '59 Funny Valentines Hobby Box (2 sold in the 10/2007 Huggins auction - lot 1863). I'm away from my scanner or I'd post that listing.

I have to admit, I would LOVE to see a RETURN of cheap vending trading cards. The packaging is what drives the price up so high (and all those special chase cards). If we could get back to 10 cent vending (or 25 for three) cards, that would be a hoot. It would be a good way to start kids on them too. (And a cheap way to sample different sets.)

Dave, I have also have a Topps Wings vendor box, with a 1952 date on it. There's a picture of it on my Web site. Also on the Web site is an article I wrote for "The Wrapper" which talks about how the cards may have been distributed. Check it out.

http://www.pjdenterprises.com/airplane_cards/topps_wings.html

Pete:

Your Wings article was top notch-I have been a Wrapper reader for 15 years now and it is one of my favorite periodicals. I wish there were more zine type pubs in the hobby.