Lot # 44: 1954 Topps 5-cent Display Box with Ted Williams on Lid - Dated 1954 Version

This original 1954 Topps store display box (dated 1954 variation) featuring Boston Red Sox Hall of Famer Ted Williams on the cover, once housed (24) 5-cent wax packs with each containing 6 cards. While obviously no cards are included, the offered survivor is one of the rarest and most desirable of all early Topps display boxes. It is especially prized by collectors as one of the few early baseball card store display boxes to feature a specific player, as well as one of the rarest of all Ted Williams display pieces. Incidentally, Ted Williams was the superstar endorser of the 1954 Topps flagship as a whole, appearing on the 5-cent display box, on counter display advertisements, and also appearing as the bookend cards of the issue. This is the first example we have ever offered of this rare dated style portraying "The Splendid Splinter." Despite the perforated "pop out" lid being neatly tape attached to the bottom panels, the remainder of the carton is well constructed with expected shelf wear, an abrasion on the bottom, and faint pencil notations on the right end panel section and front box bottom. A superb companion piece to any complete 1954 Topps set or addition to any advertising or display collection.