Tuesday, May 31, 2011

TOPPS: SPACE (AKA: TARGET MOON) 1958 - SET DESCRIPTION - 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.