Just picked up a box today. I completed 2 90 card base sets. I received the expected number of foil cards (5) and one box topper. I also pulled a Lockhart costume card and an autograph redemption for Ginny Weasley.

Box 1:
BT4
R 2, 4, 5, 6, 9
C2 Ron's sweater 118/290
P7 Magical Me book 10/280

Box 2:
BT3
R 2, 4, 6, 7, 9
C7 Filch's coat 504/665
CFC4 33/240 (cells of Hermione's face)

I opened a case (10 boxes) and here's what I pulled:

5 sets of Rare foil chase
2 sets of box toppers

Autographs:
Professor Sprout (redemption)
Moaning Myrtle (redemption)
Professor Lockhart (redemption)
Aragog
Uncle Vernon

Film Cels
CFC7
CFC6
CFC2

Props
P1 Floo Powder #104/290
P5 Mandrake #161/360
P9 Potions Book #042/115

Costumes
C2 Ron Weasley #032/290
C3 Professor Lockhart #503/640
C4 Harry Potter #101/540
C5 Ron Weasley #144/490
C7 Argus Filch #279/665
C8 Lucius Malfoy #045/640
C9 Ginny Weasley #168/190
C12 Harry Potter #114/540
C16 Ginny Weasley #016/340
C17 Uncle Vernon #208/390

Base sets:
I'm still sorting but in boxes where there was a prop card I could only make 1 set. Other boxes seem to make 2 sets per box (with 0 extra cards left).

Laura

My box with a prop made only one base set, too. There was a pattern to the missing base cards, with one exception: 12, 23, 34, 45, 52, and 56.

quote:

Originally posted by WandringRebel:
I opened a case (10 boxes) and here's what I pulled:

5 sets of Rare foil chase
2 sets of box toppers

Autographs:
Professor Sprout (redemption)
Moaning Myrtle (redemption)
Professor Lockhart (redemption)
Aragog
Uncle Vernon

Film Cels
CFC7
CFC6
CFC2

Props
P1 Floo Powder #104/290
P5 Mandrake #161/360
P9 Potions Book #042/115

Costumes
C2 Ron Weasley #032/290
C3 Professor Lockhart #503/640
C4 Harry Potter #101/540
C5 Ron Weasley #144/490
C7 Argus Filch #279/665
C8 Lucius Malfoy #045/640
C9 Ginny Weasley #168/190
C12 Harry Potter #114/540
C16 Ginny Weasley #016/340
C17 Uncle Vernon #208/390

Base sets:
I'm still sorting but in boxes where there was a prop card I could only make 1 set. Other boxes seem to make 2 sets per box (with 0 extra cards left).

Laura

nice case

My two boxes arrived today:

Box 1960/6000
BT3
R1, 3, 5, 6, 9
C7 Filch's coat 311/665
CFC4 086/240

Box 2458/6000
BT1
R1, 2, 4, 7, 8
C8 Lucius Malfoy's robes 308/640
CFC8 216/240

I was hoping for tougher costumes or maybe prop cards, but I did beat the odds on the Film Cells. It was nice to get a complete set of foils too. I haven't sorted the commons yet.

Picked up another box today. Two more base sets, an Aragog autograph and a costume card of Harry's shirt.

Single Case

Case-Topper: Basilisk

BOX 0249
BT3 - R1-R3-R5-R6-R8
C17 - Uncle Vernon's grey suit 357/390 (displaces 3 cards)
P1 - Floo Powder 089/290 (displaces 6)
1 base set, 5 short of 2nd, 2 extras

BOX 0208
BT1 - R1-R2-R4-R7-R8
C16 - Ginny's pink pajamas 308/340 (displaces 5)
P8 - Aragog's legs 186/215 (displaces 7)
1 base set, 5 short of 2nd

BOX 0387
BT1 - R1-R3-R5-R7-R8
C14 - Hagrid's shirt 482/515 (displaces 5)
Auto: Branagh as Lockhart (redemption)
2 base sets, 1 extra

BOX 5866
BT3 - R2-R4-R5-R6-R9
C5 - Ron's tartan shirt 069/490 (displaces 3)
Auto: Henderson as Moaning Myrtle (redemption)
2 base sets, 3 extras

BOX 0358
BT3 - R1-R3-R5-R6-R9
C8 - Lucius Malfoy's overcloak 160/640 (displaces 6)
CFC3: 033/240, cel: car at Whomping Willow (displaces 2)
1 base set, 1 short of 2nd

BOX 0495
BT2 - R2-R4-R6-R7-R9
C4 - Harry's striped shirt 177/540 (displaces 5)
Auto: Jones as Pomfrey
2 base sets, 1 extra

BOX 5804
BT4 - R2-R3-R5-R6-R9
C3 - Lockhart's jacket 280/640 (displaces 5)
Auto: Wright as Ginny (redemption)
2 base sets, 1 extra

BOX 0411
BT4 - R2-R4-R7-R8-R9
C7 - Filch's overcoat 110/665 (displaces 6)
CFC9: 174/240, cel: entrance to Chamber (displaces 2)
2 base sets

BOX 0315
BT4 - R2-R4-R6-R7-R9
C13 - Draco's green robe 012/165 (displaces 3)
P2 - Howler 161/190 (displaces 3)
CFC1: 040/240, cel: Filch (displaces 2)
1 base set, 1 short of 2nd

BOX 5926
BT2 - R1-R3-R4-R7-R8
C12 - Harry's red wool jumper 448/540 (displaces 7)
Auto: Griffiths as Uncle Vernon
2 base sets, 1 extra

Summary:

Foil Sets: 5 complete, 5 extras
Costume Cards: 10
Autographs: 5
Prop Cards: 3
Film Cels: 3

Base Sets: 19 complete, missing 5 from 20th. About a dozen damaged cards (dents, scratches, chips) moved either to the set for the youngsters or to the dumpster. 1 extra card.

Impressions: The base cards are designed and laid out decently, but don't expect to pick up the whole story by reading the card backs. Many significant plot points aren't pictured. I didn't see wholesale problems with card finishing, like chipped corners (etc.) reported by some other people. There are obviously two different base-card "batches" distinguished by how heavily or carefully the UV coating was applied to card backs, making some sets almost seeming like a matte finish versus glossy. The relative difference in shininess is apparent as you spread the cards.

The prop and costume choices are interesting, and we have some nice new autograph signers. Early breakdowns hint that each signer may have produced at least 200 autograph cards, or certainly at least 100.

I mentioned how many cards were displaced by costumes, props, and cel cards because it's somewhat important for finishing base-card sets. With 24 packs of 8 cards, you're right at the border of 2 complete 90-card base sets. Boxes with an autograph and a thin costume card should produce 2 complete, while boxes with thicker inserts may have only 176-179 base cards.

Nice Case

quote:

I didn't see wholesale problems with card finishing, like chipped corners (etc.) reported by some other people. There are obviously two different base-card "batches" distinguished by how heavily or carefully the UV coating was applied to card backs, making some sets almost seeming like a matte finish versus glossy. The relative difference in shininess is apparent as you spread the cards.

Out of 2 boxes, I had 7 cards that were damaged beyond use and several more lesser damaged cards that I was willing to live with. Both costume cards had worn corners and all of the card backs had the matte finish that you mentioned. I think that the Quality Control Department was asleep at the printers for this release. Very disappointing. I was so looking forward to this set.

I understand that Artbox has been changing their printers, which doesn't surprise me too much since they had to have contracted some "new guys" to support some of the earlier ramp-up in production from 1-2 series a year to 6-10. Let's hope Artbox listens well to the complaints. I was leery before I received my cards because of some of the other reports, but altogether I got lucky.

OK 2 boxes from Tom and Tom Jr ordered on New Year's Eve ! :

Box 4615
Box Topper BT1
Prop P3 Book from Dumbledore's Library 057/290
Costume C15 Seamus Finnigan 216/240
Chase R1, R3, R4, R7, R8

Box 4497
Box Topper BT2
Auto redemption for Ginny Weasley
C3 Professor Lockhart 540/640
Chase R2, R4, R5, R6, R9

My box came today. Not too bad:
C2 Rons Sweater #d 47/290
P7 Lockharts Magical Me Book #d 149/280
Foils:1,3,4,7,8
BT:3
All are available For Trade for similar cards I need out of the Goblet of Fire Update. Mike

and another 2 boxes from elsewhere in the USA

Box 4358
Box Topper BT1
Auto redemption for Kenneth Branagh as Professor Lockhart
Costume C4 Harry Potter 086/540
Chase R2, R4, R5, R6, R9

Box 4348
Box Topper BT4
Autograph of Richard Griffiths as Uncle Vernon Dursley
C12 Harry Potter 108/540
Chase R1, R3, R5, R7, R8

My wife and son opened a box last night and got BT3, 5 foils and
P5 Mandrake
C9 Ginny Weasley

I got my one and only box today, and I think that I did pretty well!

BT4
R1,2,5,6,9
P7 Magical Me book prop 224/280 (black piece with piece of a gold border )
C2 Ron Weasley Sweater 11/290 (low number )

With my Ebay purchase of the Kenneth Brannagh redemption, I am just about done with my want list for this set!

i have to say i like this set there are lots of nice cards. Pulling P7 prop numbered 001/280 was great in my first case
shame about all the auto redemptions

1st Case

Richard Griffiths/Uncle Vernon
Fiona Shaw/Aunt Petunia
Kenneth Branagh/Professor Lockhart (redemption)
Harry Melling/Dudley Dursley (redemption)

C2 Ron Weasley Brown Sweater x/290
C4 Harry Potter Striped Red Shirt x/540 -- medium and dark stripe variations
C5 Ron Weasley Red Checkered Shirt x/490
C7 Argus Flich Brown Overcoat x/665
2 x C8 Lucius Malfoy Black Overcoat x/640
C11 Harry Potter Blue Sweater x/440
C12 Harry Potter Red Sweater x/540
C14 Rubeus Hagrid Brown Jacket x/515
C15 Seamus Finnigan Tan Jacket x/240

P1 Floo Powder x/290
P7 Gilderoy Lockhart's Magical Me Book x/280 -- snakeskin numbered 001
P8 Aragog's Leg x/215

2 x CFC2 Sorting Hat
CFC6 Acromantulae
CFC7 Harry in the Chamber of Secrets

2nd case break

Richard Griffiths/Uncle Vernon
Miriam Margolyes/Professor Sprout (redemption)
Harry Melling/Dudley Dursley (redemption)
Chris Rankin/Percy Weasley (redemption)
Bonnie Wright/Ginny Weasley (redemption)

C3 Professor Lockhart Brown Jacket 117/640
C4 Harry Potter Striped Red Shirt 390/540
C5 Ron Weasley Red Checkered Shirt 247/490
C7 Argus Flich Brown Overcoat 625/665
C8 Lucius Malfoy Black Overcoat 251/640
C12 Harry Potter Red Sweater 063/540
C13 Draco Malfoy Green Robe 143/165
C14 Rubeus Hagrid Brown Jacket 021/515
C16 Ginny Weasley Pink Pajamas 061/340
C17 Uncle Vernon Grey Suit 202/390
Ci1 Harry Potter Blue Striped Pajamas (2-case incentive) x/340

P5 Mandrake 092/360 Mandrake body variations
P7 Gilderoy Lockhart's Magical Me Book 238/280 snakeskin
P10 Christmas Crackers 073/240

CFC4 Sleigh 186/240
CFC5 Draco Quidditch 176/240
CFC8 Draco Slytherin Common Room 169/240

Nice on the No.1 card

nice cases

Got a box on Friday.
Base set : 1
Box topper: BT2
Foils : 3,4,6,7,8
Costume : C16 Ginny Weasley 051/340
Prop : P5 Mandrake 001/360