Cards they are not...

Each year, this is the same gesture, as a ritual, to open & open thousands of packs, to discover base sets, inserts, autographs & relics. Each month too, this is the research to the values of cards (who's up, who's down), to read the variations discovered, ... But, just behind these thousands of cards, they are many others they are not valued, never showed : cards they are not !

As i opened a box, long time ago, i've keep many "advertising" cards offered by Topps in these packs. For sure, many of these were destroyed but i've tried to keep one ex. of each, in my collection. 

We are all used to the ads of firms passed by the box (remember the "Say no to drugs" of the Action Packed boxes), but, through the cards directly, it's more uncommon. Pro Set had, in the same early 90', wrote messages to education programs (in English & Spanish), but these exemples disappear year after year in the same time the quantity of card for a set (minus cards = minus ads spaces). After a soft period, a new period comes with games on cards, promotional cards, or club cards, ... but not to collect! But if you decide to read these cards, a real interest begin... for a part!

This phenomenon is not recent as the Topps "Funny rings" from 1966, who have a high values now because all kids used them as game and not as card. What can we say for the checklist with a thousands dollars value?

If you take two Topps cards, not so old, and compare it. When Topps lanched his "A Program" to promote a grade A in school, the first card was neutral, only a text. In 2008, a new "A program " begin with a new card to promote but this time, a Drew Brees photo is on the card. Many questions in my brain : why him? If a player on card gives a value to the card, what's the price for the Drew Brees "A program"? Who'll be the next player to appear on card?

I think these cards are important because they are an another image of the year were they're produced. A price must be decided, as for another player card, like the MVP promotion created by the same Topps in 2002.

This is some exemples, just for you :

Turn Back the Clock promotion	Turn Back the Clock 2005	Turn Back the Clock 2006	1996 Topps stadium Club recto	1996 Topps stadium Club verso
Topps Class A program	Topps Class A program 2008	Upper Deck Anniversary...	1997 Topps stadium Club	2000 Topps home team
2008 Topps town black	2008 Topps town gold

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