August-September 2017 23
Topps could have changed the name of its Look ’n See card set
to Look ’a Likes. That’s because several of the well-known people
portrayed by Topps’ artists resemble someone else, even though
the artwork is detailed and has great eye appeal.
- Card #12 portrays composer Francis Scott Key, who’s a dead
ringer for Paul McCartney, especially in his early hairstyle. The
Beatle was a composer, too, of course. So music-loving collectors
are left to choose between one of his many hits like Penny Lane
and Key’s more traditional Star Spangled Banner.
- Aviatrix Amelia Earhart is pictured on card #45, but it looks as
if comic character Annie, of “Little” fame, is staring back at you.
Again, it’s the hair.
- Scout Kit Carson, on card #53, surely looks a lot like actor
Dale Robertson. It’s the cowboy hat that turns a frontier scout
into a cast member of the Wells Fargo TV show or several of
Robertson’s western movies.
- Card #63 portrays outlaw Billy the Kid, but it could be that Elvis
is in the cards. This time, it’s in the lips.
The historic first powered airplane flight is the subject of card #13
in the Look ’n See set, a colorful portrait of Wilbur Wright. So, why
just Wilbur and no Orville? History books tell tales about the Wright
Brothers, a seemingly inseparable brother act until Topps produced a
non-sport card that puts a slab of cardboard between two close kin.
Topps does mention Orville on the card back, but that was it.
Brother Wilbur did get the first chance to fly, winning a coin toss
from Orville. On December 14 at their Kitty Hawk test site, Wilbur
gave it a go, but oversteered after leaving the launching rail. He
crashed into the sand.
Three days later, it was Orville’s turn. He was airborne, sort of,
for 12 seconds covering 120 feet. After some repairs, Wilbur took
another turn and was in the air for 59 seconds while traveling 852
feet.
So, Topps ignored Orville because he was short by 47 seconds
and 732 feet.
But the gum company made up for it on card #33. It portrays
Oliver Hazard Perry on the front, but the bio on the back is of Mat-
thew C. Perry, Oliver’s younger brother. Both were naval heroes and
Topps unwittingly managed to get two brothers on one error card.
The other error card in the set is #70. It portrays Samuel F. B.
Morse, inventor of the telegram and the related code that bears his
name. Topps switched his middle initials to B.F. on the card front
but had the correct sequence on the reverse.
Look ’n See Look ’a LikeS
Look ’n Don’t See