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From 1973 to 1976, Topps released 16 series of Wacky Packages known as the Original Series. These peel-off adhesive-backed stickers became a huge seller for Topps. There were about 30 stickers in each series issued. The stickers came in 3 different varieties: Whiteback, Tanback, and Ludlow. The Ludlows have a drawing of a camal on the back (either in red or black). Some stickers were even made of a Cloth material. The earlier stickers (series 1 thru 4) are more valuable because they are older, but the later stickers (series 14 thru 16) are even harder to find since they were sold in smaller quantities. Each series came with checklists that, when put together, form a puzzle picture. For reference, I have included a list by series and alphabetical list of every sticker. You can also download my Original Series Spreadsheet to keep track of your collection.
(Click image to view entire series)
 | SERIES 1
Year issued: 1973 Number of stickers: 30 Checklist Puzzle: Gadzooka Gum Sticker backs: Whiteback, Tanback (rare), or Ludlow (rare) Harder to find stickers: Band-Ache, Lavirus, Mutt's and Paul Maul Summary: This was the first of the original 16 series Topps released in 1973. Band-Ache, Lavirus, Mutt's and Paul Maul were short prints, making them more difficult to find. Band-Ache was later removed from production making it the most valuable. |
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 | SERIES 2
Year issued: 1973 Number of stickers: 32 (+1) Checklist Puzzle: Sugarmess Bubble Gum Sticker backs: Whiteback, Tanback, or Ludlow (rare) Harder to find stickers: Run Tony Shells Summary: Early in the series, Run Tony Shells was removed from production because it was viewed by some as an attack on Italian Americans. It was replaced by Chicken Fat making Run Tony Shells a rare sticker. |
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 | SERIES 3
Year issued: 1973 Number of stickers: 30 (+1) Checklist Puzzle: Beanball Bubble Gum Sticker backs: Whiteback (rare) or Tanback Harder to find stickers: Spit and Spill (w/ Spic and Span on box top), Dr. Ono Summary: A mistake was made on early Spit and Spill stickers leaving "Spic and Span" on top and side of the box (see picture). These early Spit and Spill stickers are quite rare. Dr. Ono has always been one of my favorite wackys and since it was short-printed it is worth a bit more. |
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 | SERIES 4
Year issued: 1973 Number of stickers: 30 (+2) Checklist Puzzle: Wormy Packages Sticker backs: Tanback only Harder to find stickers: Choke Wagon, Bum Chex, Mess Clairoil and Windhex Summary: Two of the stickers in this series, Choke Wagon and Bum Chex, were pulled from production early on (due to cease and desist letters) and were replaced by Windhex and Mess Clairoil making all 4 of them harder to find, but especially the original two. |
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 | SERIES 5
Year issued: 1974 Number of stickers: 32 Checklist Puzzle: Big Daddy Sticker backs: Tanback only Harder to find stickers: None Summary: There is a blank spot on 5th series checklists which indicates there may have been a sticker removed at some point before its release. |
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 | SERIES 6
Year issued: 1974 Number of stickers: 33 Checklist Puzzle: Mold Rush Sticker backs: Tanback only Harder to find stickers: None Summary: There are 2 different checklists in the 6th series. One has two of the stickers named wrong: Spills Bad and Goodman's Looney Noodles. The other has the correct names: Spills Bros. and Goonman's Looney Noodles. |
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 | SERIES 7
Year issued: 1974 Number of stickers: 33 (+1) Checklist Puzzle: Boozo Gum Sticker backs: Tanback only Harder to find stickers: Grime (heavy chunks version) Summary: There were 2 versions of the sticker Grime Dog Chow. The common version says "Dusty-Greasy Chunks-Makes Every Dog A Dirty Dog" while the rare one says "Heavy Chunks-It's A Knockout". |
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 | SERIES 8
Year issued: 1974 Number of stickers: 30 Checklist Puzzle: Kong Fu Bubble Gum Sticker backs: Tanback only Harder to find stickers: None Summary: Kentucky Fried Fingers has been a favorite among wacky fans. This series came out during the peak of wacky package popularity. |
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 | SERIES 9
Year issued: 1974 Number of stickers: 29 Checklist Puzzle: Hookey Bubble Gum Sticker backs: Tanback only Harder to find stickers: None Summary: There is a blank spot on 9th series checklists (like in the 5th series) that indicates a sticker was removed at some point. |
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 | SERIES 10
Year issued: 1974 Number of stickers: 30 Checklist Puzzle: Badzooka Gum Sticker backs: Tanback only Harder to find stickers: Pupsi Cola and Mountain Goo Summary: The Pupsi Cola sticker was removed in later printings. There are two sets of checklists: one with Pupsi Cola and one without (blank spot on checklist). |
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 | SERIES 11
Year issued: 1974 Number of stickers: 30 Checklist Puzzle: Planet of the Grapes Sticker backs: Tanback only Harder to find stickers: None Summary: Topps added magazine covers to their list of products to spoof. I wonder if the competition, Fleer Crazy Covers, had something to do with this? |
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 | SERIES 12
Year issued: 1975 Number of stickers: 27 Checklist Puzzle: Sootball Bubble Gum Sticker backs: Tanback only Harder to find stickers: None Summary: These later series stickers are harder to find since they sold in smaller quantities. By this time in 1975 many stores had stopped selling wacky packages. |
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 | SERIES 13
Year issued: 1975 Number of stickers: 30 Checklist Puzzle: Beastball Bubble Gum Sticker backs: Tanback only Harder to find stickers: None Summary: These later series stickers are harder to find since they sold in smaller quantities. By this time in 1975 many stores had stopped selling wacky packages. |
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 | SERIES 14
Year issued: 1975 Number of stickers: 30 Checklist Puzzle: Rosta Root Candy Sticker backs: Tanback or Whiteback Harder to find stickers: None Summary: These later series stickers are harder to find since they sold in smaller quantities. By this time in 1975 many stores had stopped selling wacky packages. |
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 | SERIES 15
Year issued: 1975 Number of stickers: 30 Checklist Puzzle: Iron Ons Sticker backs: Whiteback (some Tanback) Harder to find stickers: None Summary: This series was printed with whitebacks, however there are 2 stickers that have been found with either whitebacks or tanbacks: Fang and Pounds. Little is known exactly why this happened or what their rarity is. |
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 | SERIES 16
Year issued: 1976 Number of stickers: 30 Checklist Puzzle: Real Garbage Candy Sticker backs: Whiteback only Harder to find stickers: None Summary: This was the last and rarest set of the Original Series. 1 out of every 4 Scoot stickers were printed without a copyright, which makes them more valuable. |
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