lcummins

For those wondering about the two different UK issues in 1976 and 1979... apparently, Topps US printed identical second revision stickers in 1976 for Trebor. I don't think they can be differentiated from the US issue unless you open a sealed pack to check. This issue is virtually unknown. The common issue most people know about, was issued in 1979, made by Topps Ireland for Trebor. These stickers have the blue peel instructions on the back. The wrappers are different for the two issues and I've attached images from both releases.

Here is a quick summary... 1975 Comic Book Heroes Stickers T-34 Test issue (first test) - 22 tan back stickers (no variations), 9 checklist/puzzle (2 copyright variations) - Copyrights: no year Topps, 1974 Marvel ***** T-47 Test issue (second test) - 40 tan back stickers (4 copyright variations), 9 checklist/puzzle (2 copyright variations) - Copyrights: 1975 Topps, 1975 Marvel ***** Retail (first revision) - 40 tan back stickers (4 copyright variations), 9 checklist/puzzle (2 copyright variations) - Copyrights: 1975 Topps, 1974 Marvel 4-488-05-01-5 154 sticker print sheet layout (77 per side) on tan back stock Issued in square display box (6x6 pack layout) 1-488-70-01-5 SPIDER-MAN - 2 "BUG OFF!" CAPTAIN MARVEL "FLY THE FRIENDLY SKIES OF UNITED!" ***** Retail (second revision) - 40 white back stickers (4 copyright variations), 9 checklist/puzzle (2 copyright variations) - Copyrights: 1975 Topps, 1974 Marvel 4-488-05-02-5 264 sticker print sheet layout (132 per side) on white back stock Issued in rectangular display box (4x9 pack layout) 1-488-70-02-5 SPIDER-MAN - 2 "BUG OFF!" CAPTAIN MARVEL "FLY THE FRIENDLY SKIES OF UNITED!" ***** Retail (third revision) - 40 white back stickers (4 copyright variations), 9 checklist/puzzle (2 copyright variations) - Copyrights: 1975 Topps, 1974 Marvel 4-488-05-03-5 264 sticker print sheet layout (132 per side) on white back stock Issued in rectangular display box (4x9 pack layout) 1-488-70-02-5 SPIDER-MAN - 2 "YOU DRIVE ME UP A WALL!" CAPTAIN MARVEL "FLY THE FRIENDLY SKIES OF UNITED!" ***** Acetate material test (same as retail third revision) - 40 clear acetate, white back stickers (4 copyright variations) - Copyrights: 1975 Topps, 1974 Marvel 4-488-05-03-5 264 sticker print sheet layout (132 per side) on acetate white back stock ***** Retail UK (fourth revision) - 40 white back stickers (4 copyright variations), 9 checklist/puzzle (2 copyright variations) - Copyrights: 1975 Topps, 1974 Marvel 4-488-05-04-5 (US) or 4-486-05-01-5 (UK) or both? Issued in square display box (6x6 pack layout?) 1-486-40-01-5 264 sticker print sheet layout (132 per side) on white back stock SPIDER-MAN - 2 "YOU DRIVE ME UP A WALL!" CAPTAIN MARVEL "WHICH WAY TO THE JOHN?" *************************************************************** 1976 Marvel Super Heroes Stickers (I haven't researched this series much yet, so I don't have info on variations or stock) Retail (first revision) - 40 white back stickers, 9 checklist/puzzle 4-411-05-01-6 (1st revision sheet) Conan "SHALL WE DANCE?" Loki "WHO SAYS I'M BULL-HEADED?" Luke Cage "LIKE MY DENTURE WORK?" Hercules "LIKE MY NAIL POLISH" The Hulk "HELP CURE ATHLETE'S FEET!" Volstagg "FAT IS BEAUTIFUL" ***** Retail (second revision) - 40 white back stickers, 9 checklist/puzzle 4-411-05-02-6 (2nd revision sheet) Conan "HOLD THE PICKLE... OR ELSE!" Loki "WHAT AN AWFUL CASE OF EAR-WAX!" Luke Cage "TWO ALL BEEF PATTIES PLEASE!" Hercules "LOOK, I HAVE A HANG-NAIL!" The Hulk "CAN'T ANYONE MAKE CUFFS RIGHT?" Volstagg "I WAS A 980 POUND WEAKLING!" *************************************************************** 1979 Marvel Super Heroes Stickers Retail 0-423-0-9 - 40 white back stickers, 9 checklist/puzzle UK (1979 issue with blue peel instructions on back) Conan "HOLD THE PICKLE... OR ELSE!" Loki "WHAT AN AWFUL CASE OF EAR-WAX!" Luke Cage "TWO ALL BEEF PATTIES PLEASE!" Hercules "LOOK, I HAVE A HANG-NAIL!" The Hulk "CAN'T ANYONE MAKE CUFFS RIGHT?" Volstagg "I WAS A 980 POUND WEAKLING!" I don't have info on other foreign issues.

I replied to Gus in an email, but I'll also post here for others. I'm 99.9% sure these are the "A" and "B" sides to the full 154 sticker print sheet. Wormboy's sheet appears to be the "A" side because it has single asterisks. If the resolution was better on the other image, I would bet it has two asterisks on the stickers. I've attached another image of an uncut half sheet that is identical to Wormboy's. The resolution isn't great on it either, but I can just about make out "Side A" on the right edge of the sheet.

Nice sheet! Thanks for the close-up of the commodity code. Not sure if you've seen this... it is a "slick stock" (also referred to as Cromalin) proof sheet of the first test (T-34) stickers (actually card stock). The commodity code for this proof sheet is T-34-6. I'm proud to say I own it!

Hey Gus! Actually, the first revision (first printing) of the 1975 "Comic Book Heroes Stickers" was a 154 sticker print sheet (11x7 on each side) on tan back stock. For the second, third and fourth (or UK) revision, Topps switched to the 264 sticker print sheet (11x12 on each side), which was white back sticker stock. That is why tan back retail stickers are so much more difficult to find than their white back counterparts, and also why a lot of people confuse them as the test issue, which they are not. Below is an image of the first revision, tan back sheet. Notice the wide borders on all four sides, so it is not just a partial of a larger sheet. The commodity code for this sheet is 4-488-05-01-5. The second revision sheet has a code of 4-488-05-02-5 and the only revision I can find is just the layout from 154 stickers to 264 stickers. The third revision sheet has a code of 4-488-05-03-5 and the change was the Spider-Man-2 caption from "Bug Off!" to "You Drive Me Up A Wall!". I have been unable to find a fourth revision sheet image with the changed Captain Marvel caption, so I'm not sure of the commodity code, but most likely it would be 4-488-05-04-5, unless it was only for the UK market and got a new commodity code that matched the UK release, then it would most likely be 4-486-05-01-5.