Topps 80th anniversary cards prove almost as collectible as the originals

By John Freeman on August 16, 2018

If you remember the fun collecting bubble gum cards from younger days, then you may already know card company Topps is celebrating its 80th anniversary in 2018, and to commemorate the occasion, they’re issuing weekly exclusives on their website – which have fast become almost as collectible as the originals.

These include limited edition sets of cards that reprint vintage wax wrapper images on the front and info on that wrapper/set on the back.. Each issue is available for only one week.

The 2018 Topps 80th Anniversary Wrapper Art reaches into the archives to highlight various sets in both the sports and entertainment realms. Card fronts reproduce the original artwork. Backs have a brief history on the set that inspired it.

It’s an online-exclusive release available only on the Topps website. Available for seven days at a time, the cards are available both on their own and as a small bundle of that week’s batch. You can also buy poster versions on site, measuring 10 x 14.

Over on the collecting site Beckett, they’ve not only published a list that details the issues to date, giving the edition size – it includes a link to current ebay listings if you want to buy earlier releases.

Be warned, though – if you want to get in and caught up, you’ll need deep pockets!

Which cards did you collect? Why not share your memories below?

With thanks to Rod Beck and WPW

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John Freeman

The founder of downthetubes, which he established in 1998. John works as a comics and magazine editor, writer, and on promotional work for the Lakes International Comic Art Festival. He is currently editor of Star Trek Explorer, published by Titan – his third tour of duty on the title originally titled Star Trek Magazine.

Working in British comics publishing since the 1980s, his credits include editor of titles such as Doctor Who Magazine, Babylon 5 Magazine, and more. He also edited the comics anthology STRIP Magazine and edited several audio comics for ROK Comics. He has also edited several comic collections, including volumes of “Charley’s War” and “Dan Dare”.

He’s the writer of “Pilgrim: Secrets and Lies” for B7 Comics; “Crucible”, a creator-owned project with 2000AD artist Smuzz; and “Death Duty” and “Skow Dogs” with Dave Hailwood.