 | | | Welcome to the Trading Card Research Lab This section is designed to explain how sets of Trading Cards are configured, and introduce first time buyers/collectors to the terminology used to identify the different types of Cards within a set. |
| So what's it all about?
Trading Cards are usually supplied in display boxes containing 36 or 40 packs of Cards - it varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. Each pack usually has between 5 and 7 randomly inserted cards in. The aim for you as a collector, is to get a complete 'Master Set', basically 1 of each card released by the Manufacturer. Some Cards will, however, be inserted a lot more frequently than others.
The sections below will guide you through most types of Card available, and explain how likely you are to find them.....
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Base Cards and Base Sets Base Cards are the most common type of Card within a set and they form a set on their own - the Base Set. These Base Sets are normally made up of between 72 and 90 individual Base Cards. Each high quality Card is printed on both sides; one side will normally show a scene or character from the subject of the set, whilst the other side will provide information on that particular event or person.
The example Base Set we've shown to the right is the Battlestar Galactica Season 1 Base Set, made up of 81 Cards, it provides a brilliantly illustrated episode by episode guide to the first season of the TV series.
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| Chase Cards and Chase Sets Chase Cards aren't inserted into packs as frequently as Base Cards and are usually enhanced with Foil, or shaped differently to normal Cards. Roughly speaking, (as odds are never guaranteed by Manufacturers), if you were to open 40 packs of Cards, you would get somewhere between 3 and 6 Chase Cards. To confuse things further, there is always more than one type of Chase Card to find. These Chase Cards form smaller sub-sets of cards within the main set, (usually 1 x 9 Card set and 1 x 6 Card set), and each one will examine a certain aspect of the subject in more detail.
The example Chase Set we've shown to the right is the 6 Card Numbers Chase Set from the LOST Season 1 Set. Each Card has a foil front and has had one of the mysterious LOST numbers laser-cut out of it.
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| Box Loaders/Box Topper Cards Not all manufacturers use these Cards, so only certain sets will feature them. Inside each sealed display box of Trading Card packs, there is a bonus card inserted that can't be found in packs. This is known as a 'Box Topper' or 'Box Loader' Card. There's usually 3 different Box Loaders that will form a mini sub-set, focusing on a particular theme or event from the subject.
The example Box Loader we've shown to the right is Box Loader BL2 from the LOST Season 1 Set. The three Box Loaders from this Set form the 'Tensions' sub-set, and examine the relationships between the 3 main characters.
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| Case Loaders/Case Topper Cards If you're a serious collector and are intent on getting a 'Master Set', it is often a good idea to purchase a sealed case of Cards. Cases usually contain 10 or 12 sealed display boxes of Cards, meaning you'll have a greater chance of finding some rarer Cards. As a bonus for buying in bulk, manufacturers sometimes include a bonus 'Case Topper' or 'Case Loader' Card that is not available in packs. This could be an Autograph Card, a Costume Card, or some other form of bonus card.
The example Case Loader we've shown to the right is Autograph Card A8 from the Battlestar Galactica: Colonial Warriors Set. The manufacturer, Rittenhouse Archives, seal their Case Loader Cards with a trademark Gold Seal to prove it is genuine.
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| Sketch Cards Sketch Cards are one-of-a-kind pieces of hand-drawn artwork, created by some of the industry's most talented and recognised artists. Sketches can be done in pencil, pen, ink & paint and can be shaded, black and white or full of vibrant colour. They are some of the most exciting inserts available in modern day Trading Card packs and have a collector's culture all of their own.
The example Sketch Card we've shown is a fantastic inked sketch of 'Beast' from the X-Men 3 set by Rittenhouse Archives. This particular Card was created by the highly skilled Sean Pence, a regular on Sketch Card inserts for various companies, his Cards are amongst the most sought after. |  |
| Autograph Cards Autograph Cards are hand-signed by the stars of your favourite show or movie. The amount of Autographs in a set varies greatly, sometimes there's as few as 5 or 6, whilst some sets boast over 20 different ones. Generally, some Autographs are more limited than others and can be very difficult to find, which is why some of these Cards can fetch high prices.
The example Autograph Card we've shown to the right is from the LOST Season 1 Set and is hand-signed by Maggie Grace who plays 'Shannon Rutherford'. The manufacturers, (Inkworks), stamp all of their Autograph Cards with a Foil Logo to prove they are genuine.
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| Pieceworks/Costume Cards Depending on the manufacturer, these Cards are known by different names - 'Pieceworks' Cards, 'Costume' Cards or 'Memorabilia' Cards. Each one contains a small swatch of fabric taken from an item of clothing worn on screen by the character shown on the Card. Fantastically well-presented these Cards are great collector's items and sometimes a 'Variant' Card is available to find, which may have a different type of material from the costume, or may be patterned or coloured differently.
The example Costume Card we've shown to the right is from the Lost Revelations Set - PW2: Evangeline Lily as 'Kate', this was one of the more difficult to find Costume Cards from this set.
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| Autographed Pieceworks/Autographed Costume Cards These Cards are notoriously difficult to find as they are released in such small numbers. They have no set insertion ratio, so you never know when one is going to appear in a pack. They are a combination of Pieceworks/Costume Cards and Autograph Cards and have the features of both - a piece of show-worn clothing as well as a hand-signed signature. Depending on the actor or actress featured, some of these cards can change hands for hundreds of pounds.
The example Autographed Pieceworks Card we've shown to the right is from the LOST Season 1 Set and it features Evangeline Lilly's Autograph, as well as a piece of show-worn clothing.
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| Dealer Incentive Cards When dealers such as ourselves purchase Cards, manufacturers will sometimes offer exclusive 'Incentive' Cards for taking a certain number of sealed cases of Cards. These Incentive Cards are not available in packs, display boxes, or Cases, and are released in very limited numbers, sometimes as few as 150 Worldwide. Like Case Loaders, the type can vary - they may be Autograph Cards, Costume Cards, Sketch Cards or other forms of bonus Card. They are always highly sought after by collectors and are without a doubt the hardest Cards to find when looking to complete a 'Master Set'.
The example Incentive Card we've shown to the right is the 6 Case Dealer Incentive Card from the Battlestar Galactica: Colonial Warriors Set and features the autographs of both Dirk Benedict as 'Lt. Starbuck' and Richard Hatch as 'Capt. Apollo'.
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| Promo/Promotional Cards Before the release of Card Sets, manufacturers will often release a small amount of 'Promo' Cards to inform collectors of their forthcoming release. These Promo Cards are not always widely available, (and you can't get them in packs, display boxes, or cases), some you can only get by visiting Conventions, others may be exclusive to Non-Sport Update Magazine, and so on. Still, a 'Master Set' isn't complete without them!
The example Promo card we've shown to the right is Promo P1 from the Battlestar Galactica: Colonial Warriors Set.
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