Trading Cards
A trading card (or collectible card) is a small card which is intended for trading and collecting. The cards began originally as premiums distributed with tobacco products, but later 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 non-sports 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 are often 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 can 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 a trading card depends on a combination of the subject's popularity, the scarcity of the card, and the card's condition. In some cases, especially with older cards that preceded the advent of card collecting as a widespread hobby, they have become collectors' items of considerable value. In recent years, many sports cards have not necessarily been 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 throughout America baseball cards are popular, in Canada the Royal Canadian Mounted Police 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. Today the packs are usually plastic foil wrap.;
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.;
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