TOPPS: SPACE (AKA: TARGET MOON) 1958 / 88-CARD COMPLETE SET PLUS WRAPPERS AND DISPLAY BOX

This set was published in the wave of reaction to the Soviet Union's putting Sputnik into orbit. Interestingly, everything that happens in the cards after Sputnik appears to be American, although there is the hoisting of the United Nations' flag on Card 36, not as we know what happened with Apollo 11 in 1969. Just as is the case with Bowman's Jets, Rockets, and Spacemen, 1951, there are images here that remain convincing fifty years later - examples include Cards 7, 18, 25, 47, 70, 72, 80, or 84. This set contains no effort at fantasy but represents an attempt to show future steps in space travel. Still there are silly images, as Cards 77 or 82. There are some stunning images here as well as some mediocre ones. There are alo images which appear to have been copied and adapted from the Bowman set - compare Card 74 with Bowman 31, Card 81 with Bowman 104, or Card 85 with Bowman 62.

TOPPS: RAILS AND SAILS 1955 / 200-CARD COMPLETE SET PLUS WRAPPERS AND DISPLAY BOX AND UNCUT SHEETS

This is to my mind the most beautiful set of cards ever issued. Not every image has stunning merit - as with other sets, you can see the varying talent of artists working for Topps - but the ones that are special are really special - see, for example, Cards 12, 31, 90, 104, 140, or 149 - and the overall quality is high. The set has two parts, the first 130 cards, my favorites, being about trains, and the second 70 cards being about ships. The backs for each set have an entirely different design, all done with color, an unusual quality for trading cards. The backs also are among the most genuinely informative ever done. I still remember holding some of these cards after buying a pack down at the corner drugstore - not a frequent event for me and my brother: the excitement of opening the wax-paper package; the bright colors inside; and the pleasant smell of bubble gum. (See both sets of Rails and Sails in Chuckman's Non-Sports Trading Cards, Volumes 2 and 3.)