NOW YOU CAN SAY THAT ORR IS PRISTINE

I knew when I saw that pig flying earlier that something was up.

I came across an auction today that I never thought I'd see.



Here's the link to the auction if you want to take a closer look. Maybe you could even talk them down from a quarter million to oh, I don't know, a hundred thousand.

This stunning 1966 Topps Bobby Orr rookie card, which is the only copy in existence to receive a BVG grading of 10 (pristine), seems to have popped up out of nowhere and has left a number of people jaw dropped.

Cards from this 1966 set are incredibly difficult to find in top condition (let alone perfect). That wood grain border just wreaked havoc on collectors. Collectors who as kids could have cared less about the condition of their Bobby Orr cards, instead deciding to toss them against walls or shoving them in bike spokes.


And when it comes to the grading, it's even tougher......bordering on impossible to find top copies.

According to Beckett's Population Report on BVG graded cards, 141 different 1966 Topps Bobby Orr rookie cards have been submitted over the years. Only 10 have a grade of 8 or higher. 3 have a grade of 9.5 and just a single copy - this copy has been given the elusive 10.

A rating of 10 is so rare, out of all the Bobby Orr cards ever submitted (from any set, any year) to BVG for grading - over 2800 cards - only 22 have been given the perfect 10 (and only 4 of them are cards from his actual playing days, as opposed to Orr cards from current products being submitted for grading).

So how can this be? How can an almost 50-year-old card stand the test of time and remain perfect?

That's the million dollar question.......or at least the quarter million dollar question.

Was it a pack pulled gem that somebody had the presence of mind to just never touch (keeping in mind that a lot of these cards were cut off-center, had imperfections along the borders, who knows)? Or was this card the result of being laser cut (using current technology) from a complete sheet of cards? And if so, where would anyone find one of these sheets?


It's hard for me to think that this card was a pack pull from the mid-60's. I just don't see a card lasting this long in this perfect of condition.

If it was laser cut (which I'm not claiming it is) would it diminish the impressiveness of the 'accomplishment'? I don't know. It's still pretty stunning to see this single copy card looking as perfect as can be. Hard to argue that.

What I do know is that it's one amazing card and if I had the chance to obtain it - I would. Laser cut or not. It's truly one of a kind. And it probably will continue to be for a long time.

So what are your thoughts on laser cut cards? Would you buy a card knowing that it was laser cut from a sheet of cards as opposed to distributed 'old school', in packs?

If it were a Gretzky rc or a Linden rc, that would be a little different to me. I think the fact that this card is from the mid-60's comes into play. Newer cards (or newer to me) wouldn't get the same level of leeway as opposed to one of these true vintage pieces.

Alright, I think I'm going to bid. So just a heads up to you all who are looking to snipe it away from me.