AI Appraisal Estimate

This is a standard-sized (2.5" x 3.5") sports trading card featuring San Francisco 49ers center Fred Quillan, manufactured by Topps in 1986. The card design is iconic for its 'black border' aesthetic, which is notoriously difficult to find in high grades because the dark ink easily shows white chipping and edge wear. The front depicts a close-up, horizontal action-oriented photograph of Quillan in a red 49ers jersey with white lettering. The typography at the bottom is bold, with 'QUILLAN' in large white block letters over a gold banner labeled '4 9 E R S'. The 'TOPPS' logo is vertically aligned at the top right. This specific example appears to be housed in a clear protective sleeve. From the visual perspective, the centering seems shifted toward the top (right side in horizontal orientation). There is visible softening on the corners, particularly the lower left, and some minor surface artifacts likely on the sleeve itself. The iconic green-back cardboard stock used during this era is visible through the top edge. As an item from the mid-80s, it represents the tail end of the vintage era before the 'junk wax' period overproduction fully took hold.

I have conducted a visual examination of the 1986 Topps Fred Quillan #170 card based on the provided imagery. The card is a standard issue from Topps' mid-80s production. Visually, the card exhibits the characteristic 'black border' design, which is highly sensitive to wear. My inspection reveals significant centering issues, with a heavy left-to-right bias (top-to-bottom in the horizontal orientation). The corners show visible softening and white 'chipping' against the dark ink, particularly on the lower-left corner. These defects suggest a raw condition grade of EX 5 to EX-MT 6. Market demand for Fred Quillan remains niche, primarily localized to San Francisco 49ers team set collectors. Unlike the Jerry Rice rookie card from this same set, which drives the 1986 market, common players like Quillan have high survival rates and low scarcity. Recent comparable sales for raw, mid-grade copies of this card consistently fall within the nominal range of one to three dollars. The cost of professional grading would likely exceed the market value of the card itself. While the typography, stock color, and ink saturation appear consistent with 1986 Topps manufacturing, this appraisal is based on digital images only. Full authentication requires an in-person physical inspection to verify the paper fiber composition under magnification and to perform a UV light test to ensure the card possesses the period-correct 'green-back' fluorescence. Without physical handling, it is impossible to detect surface indentations, chemical cleaning, or subtle trimming. I recommend a professional assessment by a third-party grader (PSA or SGC) if provenance concerns arise.