Page 8 - joa-1-24

Publisher’s Corner

Collecting Ephemera journalofantiques.com

Publisher
ineteenth-century paperboard trade cards and PSA 10 copy of a Pikachu Maxine Carter-Lome
journalofantiques@gmail.com
their 20th century trading cards counterparts Illustrator card known to exist, set- Maxine Carter-Lome
Nhave long been used as a popular way for ting the Guinness World Record for Business Manager
companies to advertise their brand and sell products. the most expensive Pokémon card sold privately. Jeffrey Lome
They are fun to look at, read, and collect, with the goal of Trading cards have also moved deeper into the world jeffreylome@gmail.com
completing an entire set. That popularity has elevated of entertainment. Disney, the powerhouse of brand Managing Editor
these early trading cards to collectibles status over the extensions, introduced its new trading card game, Disney Judy Gonyeau
years, building a worldwide market for something that at Lorcana, in 2023 in celebration of its 100th Anniversary. editorial.journalofantiques@gmail.com
one time came free inside a package of gum or cigarettes. The game allows players to wield magic to summon Art Director
Today, some early and rare examples of trade cards Disney characters. Three Starter Decks have been Lynn Cotterman
and the baseball cards that soon followed, in mint released with cards that feature more than 200
condition, can realize millions at auction. No wonder the original pieces of Disney art (which have already made Production
trading card market is exploding, with both old and new them a hugely popular collectible for collectors). The Lynn Cotterman
companies introducing cards of their own and banking addition of Booster Packs, Gift Sets, and an Illumineer’s
Judy Gonyeau
on their future collectability and value. Trover (a complete collectibles set) is designed to keep
The earliest known examples of trade cards hail from the market active and build card value. Already, “Elsa – Jill Montague-Kaitbenski
Europe in the 1670s. They were printed in black and Spirit of Winter” from the Enchanted set, has a re-sale
white on some type of paper and advertised a good, trade, market value of $700. 508-347-1960
or a specific seller. They often included artistic elements Disney, however, was not the first franchise to intro- Toll free:
with a blank area for specific information unique to the duce trading cards as a way to promote their brand 888-698-0734
issuer of the cards. among collectors and fans. In June of 1977, The Topps
Here in the U.S., trade cards—also known as Company introduced the 1977 Topps Star Wars Series 1 Fax: 508-347-0911
Mailing:
cigarette or tobacco cards because they were inserted into trading card set to a fan base like none other. The set was
paper packs of cigarettes as stiffeners to protect the based on Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, and P. O. Box 950
contents—are the ancestors of trading cards and were featured stills from the film, promotional photos, Sturbridge, MA 01566
used as a form of advertising by retail companies to and behind-the-scenes photos, all within a blue starfield
journalofantiques@gmail.com
promote their products or brands. By 1900, there were border. The backs of the cards featured “Story Summary”
thousands of tobacco card sets manufactured by 300 or “Movie Facts” information. The set was a hit for
different companies. Children would stand outside of Topps and today, a few limited rare cards in excellent UPS and FedEx
stores to ask customers who bought cigarettes for the condition from this first release can and have sold for Shipping Address:
113 Main Street, Unit 2
promotional cards. more than $50,000! Sturbridge, MA 01566
The first baseball cards were trade cards printed in the The new 21st-century global powerhouse in the
late 1860s by a sporting goods company, around the trading card arena today is Panini, whose stickers and Journal of
time baseball became a professional sport. Most of the trading cards have captured sports fans from around the Antiques and Collectibles
baseball cards around the beginning of the 20th century world, with each annual release reflecting the teams, is published monthly in digital
came in candy and tobacco products. It was during players, and tournaments fans and collectors love to and quarterly in print by
this era that the most valuable baseball cards ever printed follow across all popular sports. In 2022, it was projected Weathervane Enterprises, Inc.
were produced. that 100 million packets of Panini stickers were sold in 113 Main Street, Unit 2
By the 1930s, companies began printing athletes’ the U.S. alone! Worldwide, the demand is even greater. Sturbridge MA 01566
biographies on baseball cards and selling them in packs of When Argentina ran out of stickers in September of Periodicals postage paid at
bubble gum. In 1933, the Goudey Gum Company of 2022, its secretary of commerce called an emergency Sturbridge MA
Boston issued baseball cards with players’ biographies on meeting to solve this national crisis. You can learn more
the backs and was the first to put baseball cards in bubble about the Panini collector revolution on page 19.
gum. In 1949, Topps Chewing Gum started inserting In this issue dedicated to Ephemera, we also explore POSTMASTER:
trading cards into bubble gum packs with sets that the Billy Ireland Cartoon Library & Museum at The Send address changes to
featured athletes, cinema stars, and big game hunters. Ohio State University, Advertising Trade Cards, and The Journal of Antiques
They also produced their first baseball trading card set in other non-sport card collectibles; all paper-based and Collectibles
1951, designed to resemble playing cards. memorabilia with a lasting shelf-life that is still interesting ISSN: (1539-5618)
Trading cards moved from the sports arena into the to collect, trade and preserve generations later. P.O. Box 950
gaming world by the close of the 20th century with We also kick off the New Year with our Annual Show Sturbridge, MA 01566
the popularity of the Pokémon franchise and the intro- Directory. Here, you can find hundreds of antique
duction of character trading cards. The first series, issued and vintage shows and markets taking place across the The Journal of Antiques and Collectibles
reserves the right to reject any advertising that
in Japan, contained 102 illustrated cards. One year after country, throughout the year. This extensive list of new does not comply with our standards. The
the U.S. release of Pokémon in 1998, the Pokémon and the return of old shows is proof that nothing beats a Journal will not be liable for any errors or
omissions but will print a correction in the
02/23
Trading Card Game was introduced to North America. live experience to shop for the things we love to collect. following issue if notification of such error is
Today, it is estimated that 30 billion Pokémon cards have sent by the appropriate deadline. Original
manuscripts are welcomed by qualified
been printed, creating a worldwide market for card sales. writers. We assume no responsibility for loss
While the majority of cards sell in the $150 range for of unsolicited material.
binders and complete packs, YouTuber Logan Paul paid Maxine Carter-Lome, Publisher Copyright 2023
a reported $5.275 million in a private sale for the only All rights reserved

6 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles