Wacky Packages Reissue Series

Unpublished 5th Series

Most wacky collectors are familiar with the Wacky Packages Reprint Series of 1979 and 1980.  There were four different 66 sticker sets which were reprints of the famous 1973-1976 Original Series, and the titles were numbered consecutively from #1 to #264.  The only new title was Ice Krunkles, which was a Lost Wacky unused from the original 12th Series in 1975.

A Wrapper proof showed up a few years ago, with production code 0-490-21-01-0.  This would designate the wrapper to the Reprint Series, but nothing else was found.

Then Topps shocked the Wacky World in June of 2004, when they auctioned off a paper checklist for a 1980 5th series which was never published.    It was pasted on the back of a football card, and another identical checklist was auctioned a year later in June of 2005.

This set only had 55 stickers, but the most interesting aspects are the titles.  There are over a dozen Wackys from the Die-Cut & Original 1st Series on the list!   Had this set actually been issued, many of today's rare wackys (Band-Ache, Jolly Mean Giant, Moron Salt) would not be so highly prized.

Oddly, the Checklist named Sticker #305 as Earth Bum, which had already been printed as Sticker #191 in the 3rd Series of this set.  It is assumed that this was a typo (common with Wacky Packages), and the intended title was Earth Barn.

In February 2005, we got to see the Series 5 puzzle. Topps auctioned a black and white prototype sheet of 3 uncut Sneer Puzzles.  Back in 1980, this would have been the first wacky puzzle to feature a parody of a non-Topps product.

Can reissues be considered Lost Wackys? So far it seems that nothing from this series ever made it to the final stage.  But I just couldn't resist printing up a few wrappers and puzzles, with checklists on the back.