Trading Cards

A trading card (or collectible card) is a small card which is intended for trading and collecting. They began originally as premiums distributed with tobacco products, but became very popular as inserts to bubblegum packs. more...

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Eventually, the cards became the more desirable content, and the gum, with few exceptions, is no longer included in trading card packs.

Trading cards are traditionally associated with sports; baseball cards are especially well-known. Cards dealing with other subjects are often considered a separate category from sports cards, known as editorial trading cards or simply nonsports trading cards. These often feature cartoons, comic book characters, television series, or movie stills. They should not be confused with a trade card.

As with playing cards, which they generally resemble, trading cards may sometimes be used to play various games. In the 1990s, cards designed specifically for playing games became popular enough to develop into a distinct category of collectible card games. These tend to use either fantasy subjects or sports as the basis for gameplay.

The development of the Internet has brought the development of various online communities through which members could trade cards with each other. Cards are often bought and sold via eBay, which has been a boon to card collectors, but has led to the demise of many local card shops.

The value of trading cards depends on a combination of the subject's popularity, the scarcity of the cards, and their condition. In some cases, especially with older cards before the advent of card collecting as a widespread hobby, they have become collector's items of considerable value. In more recent years, many sports cards have not necessarily appreciated as much in value due to mass production, although some manufacturers have used limited editions and smaller print runs to boost value.

In some jurisdictions, trading cards are distributed by police officers to children in order to boost public relations. While through America baseball cards are popular, in Canada the RCMP distribute cards of each Mountie in the Musical Ride.

Terminology

Presented in logical order, not alphabetical:

Cards - usually the standard baseball size of 2.5 in. by 3.5 in., but 'widevision' cards are of the tall historically-basketball size.; Packs - the original wrapper with base and insert cards within, often called 'wax packs', typically with two to eight cards per pack.; Wrappers - the original pack cover, often with collectible variations.;

Retail Cards -- cards, packs, boxes, and cases sold to the public, typically via retail stores.; Hobby Cards -- items sold mainly to collectors, typically via mail-order. Usually contains some items not included in the retail offerings.;

Blister Packs -- factory plastic bubble pack of cards or packs, for retail peg-hanger sales.; Rack Packs -- factory packs of unwrapped cards, for retail peg-hanger sales.; Tins -- factory metal can, typically filled with cards or packs, often with inserts.; Boxes - original manufacturer's container of multiple packs, often 24 packs per box.; Cases - factory-sealed box filled with card boxes, often six to ten card boxes per case.;

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