1967 Wacky Packages Box Sets All-Time High at $79,300 in Heritage Auction

A box of 1967 Wacky Packages, the iconic parody sticker set from Topps, just fetched a record $79,300 at Heritage Auctions, underscoring the rising demand for rare non-sports collectibles. The sale sets a new benchmark for the franchise, easily eclipsing the previous record of $63,084 set in 2022.

First released by Topps in 1967, Wacky Packages lampooned popular grocery brands with playful, cartoon-inspired twists. The project famously featured early artwork by Art Spiegelman, who would later earn a Pulitzer for Maus. These first-series cards came as punch-outs meant to be licked and stuck onto just about anything, adding to their appeal among kids of the era.

But the fun wasn’t without controversy—parodied brands like Ritz, Jolly Green Giant, Morton Salt, and 7-Up took legal action, prompting Topps to swap out a dozen cards and expand the original lineup from 44 to 56 cards. Once the legal dust settled, Topps doubled down, rolling out “Wacky Ads” in 1969 and returning to the market in 1973 with peel-and-stick stickers. For a time, Wacky Packages stickers rivaled baseball cards in schoolyard popularity.

Though the series took a break from 1992 to 2004, Wacky Packages have made several comebacks, maintaining a cult following among collectors and pop culture enthusiasts.

The record-breaking auction is another reminder that vintage non-sports cards and unopened boxes—especially those linked to nostalgia and pop culture history—are commanding strong prices and renewed attention.