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Cool Book Alert: Star Trek: The Original Topps Trading Card Series


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For the past couple of years, Abrams Comicarts have been releasing beautiful hardcover books based on Topps trading cards, including ones devoted to Garbage Pail Kids, Wacky Packages and Mars Attacks. Hot on the heels of their (way more interesting than it has any right to be) history of Bazooka Joe, Abrams is unleashing a tome dedicated to Topps’ 1976 line of Star Trek bubblegum cards. From the press release:

Ever since Star Trek first aired on television in 1966, the series has had a strong influence on pop culture. In 1976, due to the show’s rising popularity in syndication, Topps released a series of collectible trading cards featuring full-color images from the classic television series created by Gene Roddenberry, as well as synopses and information on the cast and crew of the Starship Enterprise.

The book promises to reproduce the fronts and backs of all 88 cards from the set, as well as the elusive corresponding stickers. It will be more than just pretty pictures though, as Trek experts Paula M. Block and Terry J. Erdmann will present insight about the cards’ history. Like all of Abrams’ Topps books, this comes complete with a dustcover that replicates the feeling of the old wax packs, as well as exclusive cards. If the previous Topps volumes are any indication, this release should be a welcome nostalgia trip. It will be released on September 24th at the retail price of $19.99.

As a child of the 1970s and ’80s, bubblegum cards were an essential part of my upbringing. They were cheap enough for me to buy (usually 25 cents a pack) without tapping out my allowance and ubiquitous enough that I could grab some at nearly everywhere my prepubescent self frequented. Oddly enough, I had packs of Star Trek cards before I ever even saw the show, so these were my introduction to a world of fandom that I continue to pursue until this day. Before this post delves into a “back in my day”-style memory trip, just let me add that your mileage may vary when it comes to this book. I can’t wait though. Here’s hoping future releases dedicated to Norman Saunders’ amazing 1966 Batman line and the various Star Wars sets are forthcoming.

That’s going to wrap it up for me today, but Luke will be returning from his nuptials tomorrow to once again handle all of your nerdy needs. Until next time!