Planet of the Apes was enough of a global phenomenon to warrant a set of trading cards for Canadian fans. 1969 O-Pee-Chee Planet of the Apes transfers the Topps set north of the border with a near identical release, albeit one with a little of its own intrigue.
At a glance or even a fairly close look, the set matches up with 1969 Topps Planet of the Apes. It has the same 44 cards with the same 44 captions and the same 44 write-ups.
The biggest difference? It’s in the fine print.
The easiest way to spot an OPC Planet of the Apes card is that the say, “PTD. IN CANADA” on the back. Topps cards read, “PRTD. IN U.S.A.”
Sometimes the spacing in the synopsis can be a little different but that would require having the two versions side by side. Even then, you’d probably end up going to the country in the fine print so it’s probably just easier to start there. Side by side, O-Pee-Chee cards are also darker on the back.
Like virtually all O-Pee-Chee trading cards that don’t have hockey players on the front, the Planet of the Apes release flies somewhat under the radar. That said, with a small target audience, it’s safe to assume that the print run was smaller — perhaps significantly. Although not completely scientific, one can compare PSA’s population reports for both the O-Pee-Chee and Topps releases and look at the total number of cards they’ve graded for each set. Basically, for every 100 Topps cards graded there have been two or three OPC.
1969 O-Pee-Chee Planet of the Apes Checklist
44 cards.
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1 Crash Landing!
2 Bail Out!
3 Stranded!
4 Spaceman George Taylor!
5 First Sign of Life!
6 Discovery!
7 Man vs. Beast!
8 Captives of the Apes!
9 Stalking Human Prey!
10 Another Prisoner!
11 Nova is Captured!
12 No Escape!
13 Ape Brutality!
14 Captured!
15 The Victors!
16 Proud Conquerors!
17 Say Cheese!
18 Ape Surgeon!
19 Taylor’s Life is Saved!
20 Pleading for Mercy!
21 Caged!
22 Taylor’s Ally!
23 Words of Anger!
24 Human on a Leash!
25 Return to Prison!
26 Ape Scientist!
27 Taylor’s Escape Fails!
28 Zoo Attendant!
29 Water Torture!
30 Ape Madhouse!
31 Manacled!
32 Ape Jury!
33 Speaking Against Taylor!
34 The Trial Continues!
35 Ape City!
36 Deciding Taylor’s Fate!
37 Escape!
38 The Search!
39 The Forbidden Zone!
40 Under Arrest!
41 Friends of the Human!
42 Farewell!
43 Man’s Destiny!
44 Lights! Camera! Action!
