General Forum

Things are little slow for me today so I figured I would start some trouble.    When a card says DP,  how do we know it was double printed?   Or is that just a generic term for "more were printed".    Same for SP how do we know and how short was the print run?    Run with it.

I know on vintage, double-print (DP) cards were on more than one print sheet.

Pictures of uncut sheets are the key for confirming DP (also # of cards in a series for vintage Topps in particular).  SPs are more often than not from modern releases based on stated odds.

We covered that in the Rules & Guidelines doc for Notes:

https://www.tradingcarddb.com/FAQ.cfm?ITEM=Notes#2

Guideline 1B--The Note “SP” for “Short Print” is used only for cards produced in a significantly lesser quantity than the majority of that set. Even greater production reductions such as “SSP” for “Super Short Print” may be used if so designated by the card issuer. Use "DP" for "Double Print" or “TP” for “Triple Print” only for cards printed at precisely two or three times the normal quantity. Print quantity identifiers such as SP and DP are not essential in a set if SN## or PR## information is provided, but may be included if desired.

So I understand how SP/SSP/DP are determined. Can you explain as succintly what Print Runs are and their significance?

That's me and my sister!!!! =)

Here is my take on Print Runs.  In 2017 Topps Now announced they were doing a 1 card set for the new Doct Who who had just been introduced as being played by Jodie Whitaker.  So, I went on the Topps Now website and ordered one of the cards.  The card would only be available for a limited time.  After I recieved my card I went back on the Topps Now website where they had posted the Print Run to be 1400.  Which means they had 1,400 orders for that one card.  The card itself is not serial numbered.

Ha Ha

Yes, PR### means that there are that many copies of that card released. PR300, there were 300 copies of that card distributed.

To complicate matters, Donruss was notorious for this, they would do an insert set, serial number it to say 1000. Then take the first 250 and die-cut them. Everywhere in the hobby, they would be called 2 distinct sets: "Insert Set A" and "Insert Set A Die-Cuts". So, for our listings, since the cards still have 0125/1000 on them, for the Die-Cut set - SN1000, PR250 and for the non Die-Cut version - SN1000, PR750.

I'm glad you brought this up, this may help a lot of our newer members understand our somewhat whacky-looking notation, but why it's important, and how it's actually very accurate!