Year: 2017
Manufacture: Panini
Set: Donruss Baseball
Card Type: Insert Parallel
Insert Set: Retro Variations
Parallel: Aqueous Test
Card Number: RV-43
Card Attributes: Serial Numbered
Serial Number: 47/49
Continuing from my recent Black Friday delivery. This 2017 Donruss Baseball Aqueous Test Retro Variations parallel. Last year Panini did a throw back insert for the 1982 set, this year they're commemorating the 1983 set. The aqueous test back also celebrates the famous aqueous test cards from the 1990 Donruss set. Aqueous was a coating for the front of the cards. I'm not sure if Donruss ended up using the coating for it's products or not, but the cards became stuff of legends. With less than 2500 cards total believed to exist and not all players having an aqueous test card in the set they are by far some of the most expensive and sought after 90's cards. How the test cards made it out into the public is also another great area of speculation. If you're curious about the set a quick internet search will send you down the rabbit hole. Robin does have a 1990 Donruss Aqueous card, but one has alluded my collection so far.
Ahem. So here we are with the 2017 parallel. I was able to snag a copy for a decent price like all my Black Friday cards. If my count is right there are 8 parallels to the Retro Variations set not including the 4 printing plates. There are only 3 rarer, the pink, artist proof, and press proof. I do love the 1983 design. The 82 and 83 Donruss sets are some of my favorites and probably the best designs Donruss put out in the 80's and early 90's. Panini could have found a better photo I'm sure and the Photoshop color and airbrushing leaves a lot to be desired.
