In 1967-68, the National Hockey League doubled in size and expanded to markets never explored before. Suddenly, there were two teams in California. Would these new markets convert people into hockey fans of the Los Angeles Kings and California Golden Seals (Oakland Seals)? Would these hockey fans jump on the hockey card bandwagon?
Topps had been producing hockey cards for the Canadian market since the 1954-55 season. To ‘test’ the American market, they came out with the 1966-67 test set to release onto the California market during the 1967-68 season. The original 1966-67 Topps series consisted of 132 cards. The test set was half that at 66. Because of the short supply, the cards are now worth double or more than the regular issue.
What were the other differences? Some card numbers were different, obviously. However, the Bobby Orr rookie card remained number 35. The borders were a lighter shade of brown. Several cards had a white line down the right edge of the card (think 1973-74 topps) as seen in the attached scan of the Bobby Orr rookie card. This is actually one of the best ways to determine if the Orr card is not counterfit. Also, the back was only in English and did not include a French translation like the Canadian version.
There was a myth for years that there were only 100 sets produced. This is not true. The values of the test set are at least double that of the regular issue. If there were only 100 sets produced, the values of the test set would be astronomical. As it stands, the value of a complete set, according to Beckett, is $12,000 compared to $4500 for the standard issue. A common card is worth $50 in the test whereas a common in the standard is just $10.
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Of course, the Bobby Orr card is the pinnacle of the series. Valued at $8000, it’s a hell of a treasure. Following Orr are the usual suspects: Gordie Howe, Bobby Hull, Stan Mikita and Jean Beliveau. Howe’s card is valued at $800 ($200 standard), Hull comes in at $600 ($150 standard), Mikita and Beliveau are both valued at $300 ($50 standard).