Right now, on eBay, there is a listing for 1969 and 1970 Topps Man on the Moon unopened boxes identified as series 1 and series 2. I was not aware that there were 2 series of this issue. Does anybody know if there is a difference in the pack wrappers between the two series?
"Man On the Moon" was first released as a 55 card set in 1969 before the Moon landing actually occurred. The cards are numbered 1 through 55 with either an "A" or a "B", depending on the puzzle formed on the back. In late 1969, after the Moon landing, Topps expanded the set to 99 cards, numbered 1 of 99, 2 of 99, etc., so it is easy to tell the releases from each other. So it is not really two series technically, but rather, an expanded re-release. There is no differences between wrappers, boxes, etc. Topps added the "Real Photos of Men on the Moon" sticker on boxes for the second release where they had actual photos of the Moon landing and it therefore shouldn't be found on boxes of the 55 card release... but with Topps, anything is possible, but I would be leery that one of those boxes was really the first release. Also, some print sheets got turned 180 degrees when the backs were printed, creating variations of two backs for each front. I need to look at my notes to remember if it was the first release cards or the second release, but either way, it is a complex set to collect if one were going for a master set!