I looked for a thread on Card Talk about books on cards but didn't see one so I'm starting one with a review of Gary Gerani's recently-published "The Card King Chronicles: Vol. 1: The 70's." It's the first finished volume of a planned set of five autobiographical books covering his creative life - his time as a writer/editor/art director at Topps among other jobs. Chapter 1 covers his childhood and his interest in drawing and filmmaking as well as his discovery and collecting of trading cards in the 1960s. The following chapters are each devoted to a year starting with 1972 when he was hired at Topps Chewing Gum. The book closes with an epilogue as he recalls looking forward to the 80's.

I enjoyed reading "The Card King Chronicles." Gerani certainly loved his early years at Topps. His enduring enthusiasm jumps from the pages. He provides background info on all the favorite sets, the lesser-remembered ones (at least to me), and the test sets. The reader learns why some products were cards and others had to be stickers or something else. We watch his rise within the company across the 70's, hired at first to write gags for card and sticker projects but he soon pivoted to editor and then art director just as Topps, itself, was evolving from finding ways to sell bubblegum to kids to telling stories on trading cards for kids and adults (not that selling gum wasn't serious business). This book also tells a basic story of someone finding his niche, not landing a job he had imagined but still spotted as someone who could fit in with a team of highly creative people and contribute as part of the next generation of talent at the company.

Any negatives? The book could've used a round of editing itself. There are numerous typos (even on the back cover) so at times it reads like a near-finished final draft but with all the artwork ready to go. I get the feeling it was rushed to publication so copies would be available for the October Philly Show. Volume 2 (The 80's) is said to be shooting for a release this October as well. Even with this minor quibble about typos, I highly recommend this book to trading card collectors and others interested in the history of what became The Topps Company.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: catskilleagle,

One other thing, when you buy a copy of the book, you get it signed to you plus two signed sketch cards as well. I received one of "The Colossals" and one of the "Card King Kiddies."

quote:

The Card King Chronicles: Vol. 1: The 70's

I have a criticism not about the book but about the publisher and their website. One part of the website states No International Orders and the shop part states for International orders shipping would be $15 yet when you try to order the only selection for Country on their automated address details the only option is United States thus preventing an international order. I tried using the contact facility on their website but could not get past the telephone number requirement as it would not accept by landline number as I don't have a mobile number.
John

Lindsey and I interviewed Gary Gerani a couple of months ago, and he chatted a lot about both the book projects and his experiences, if anyone is interested

https://youtu.be/mCpug3mRMm4?si=gbGKvHec9qqLuMRU

I read Volume 2 of "The Card King Chronicles" which covers Gary Gerani's work at Topps during the 80's.

The book opens with our hero, now a seasoned pro, recalling his and pop culture's transition from the 70's to the 80's with an observation about how those transitions don't always seem to occur exactly with the calendars.

Like Volume 1, it's an interesting book reviewing various 80's products he worked on or had a hand in or wasn't sure he really did anything with. I remember most of them and you still see some of it out there - worn candy containers at flea markets and of course lots of the cards and stickers on Ebay.

The funny thing to me was that Topps carefully considered what licenses to pursue or partner with and what should be a trading card set, what should be a sticker album, and what would be just packaging for candy or gum. With all that, Topps still greenlit "Perlorian Cats," a 55-sticker set featuring kittens dressed in weird outfits?

How many different cards are there ?

There are 6 for The Colossals and 6 for Card King Kiddies, according to the checklists

But there are also 6 more for Altara's Quest

18 cards or more ?

Jess
You and your fellow US residents are lucky to have the opportunity to read Gary's books. I am not able to purchase any of them from him as he states that he cannot accommodate sales beyond the U.S.

John

quote:

Originally posted by JOHN LEVITT:
Jess
You and your fellow US residents are lucky to have the opportunity to read Gary's books. I am not able to purchase any of them from him as he states that he cannot accommodate sales beyond the U.S.

John

On the Fantastic Press Store site(came up on Google) on the page for Vol 1 it says you have to contact Gary for overseas info, and as you said he stated he can't sell overseas. However, on another page, with the same store, for Vol 1(that came up on Google) I was able to add the book to my basket and it appeared to be fine to ship to the UK. The shipping would have been $15... the book is $30 - so $45 in total. Not sure if it would be cancelled later as not being available to the UK. But it might be worth a try. I didn't see anything for Vol 2.

Edited to add that the page stated it also included a couple of sketch cards signed by Gary.

quote:

Originally posted by Hedgehog Witch:

quote:

Originally posted by JOHN LEVITT:
Jess
You and your fellow US residents are lucky to have the opportunity to read Gary's books. I am not able to purchase any of them from him as he states that he cannot accommodate sales beyond the U.S.

John

On the Fantastic Press Store site(came up on Google) on the page for Vol 1 it says you have to contact Gary for overseas info, and as you said he stated he can't sell overseas. However, on another page, with the same store, for Vol 1(that came up on Google) I was able to add the book to my basket and it appeared to be fine to ship to the UK. The shipping would have been $15... the book is $30 - so $45 in total. Not sure if it would be cancelled later as not being available to the UK. But it might be worth a try. I didn't see anything for Vol 2.

Edited to add that the page stated it also included a couple of sketch cards signed by Gary.

Hedgehog

I followed the same path and got the email a day or so later, you may get the same.

regards

John

Yes, that makes 18 total. I did get an Altara's Quest (St. Ellie) and another Card King Kiddies ("Little Lord Vader") with my copy of Vol. 2.

quote:

Originally posted by David R:
How many different cards are there ?

There are 6 for The Colossals and 6 for Card King Kiddies, according to the checklists

But there are also 6 more for Altara's Quest

18 cards or more ?

John,

He's got people outside the U.S. who want to buy his books but his website isn't set for that.
You'd think he would've solved that PROBLEM by now. If collectors from the UK are going to shows in the U.S., maybe he could ask them to carry copies back with them. It's not ideal but he needs to find some way to get his books to the people who want them no matter where they are. People have been buying books from the U.S. for hundreds of years.

Jess

quote:

Originally posted by JOHN LEVITT:
Jess
You and your fellow US residents are lucky to have the opportunity to read Gary's books. I am not able to purchase any of them from him as he states that he cannot accommodate sales beyond the U.S.

John

quote:

Originally posted by catskilleagle:
John,

He's got people outside the U.S. who want to buy his books but his website isn't set for that.
You'd think he would've solved that PROBLEM by now. If collectors from the UK are going to shows in the U.S., maybe he could ask them to carry copies back with them. It's not ideal but he needs to find some way to get his books to the people who want them no matter where they are. People have been buying books from the U.S. for hundreds of years.

Jess

quote:

Originally posted by JOHN LEVITT:
Jess
You and your fellow US residents are lucky to have the opportunity to read Gary's books. I am not able to purchase any of them from him as he states that he cannot accommodate sales beyond the U.S.

John

Jess

I wonder if it is something to do with import taxes and custom declarations especially for the UK. I already have some of his other card books like Star Wars cards etc. as they were available via Amazon.

regards

John

I suppose if could be a publishing/licensing thing, and that would still be tied up with taxes and the other boring financial stuff.
The other option would have been ebooks, if sending out physical copies was an issue. While not an ideal format for this type of collectors' book, it would at least make it available to everyone, while still gaining revenue. Oh well...

Please forgive the limitations of my webpage. It breaks my heart to think that fans who want the books can't purchase them. Please contact me directly at 818 788-7961, or email me at altara2@aol.com. Each book is 30 dollars, and I can always send it to England or anywhere else by taking it to my local post office, and whatever the shipping fee is, it is. We can always make use of PayPal to cover any adjustments. No way in the world do I want to deprive anyone who actually wants the books. Just get in touch, and we'll figure something out. Again, sorry!

quote:

Originally posted by JOHN LEVITT:
Jess
You and your fellow US residents are lucky to have the opportunity to read Gary's books. I am not able to purchase any of them from him as he states that he cannot accommodate sales beyond the U.S.

John

Hi John... Gary Gerani here. So sorry for all the US to UK trouble. Please check your email. I'll do my best to get the book you ordered out ASAP, via my local post office.

Gary

Many thanks for the email and for getting organised in sending the book and making it available for all your would be overseas readers.

I can't wait to read it.

regards

John

This message has been edited. Last edited by: JOHN LEVITT,

Mr. Gerani,

Welcome to Card Talk. Please feel free to look around and post in any thread that interests you. You might be the one to answer some open questions about the source of/story behind various cards especially promo cards and prototypes of the 90's.

I assume you're working on Volume 3 of the Card King Chronicles. Do you have a release date in mind for that?

Thanks,

Jess

quote:

Originally posted by CardKing:
Please forgive the limitations of my webpage. It breaks my heart to think that fans who want the books can't purchase them. Please contact me directly at 818 788-7961, or email me at altara2@aol.com. Each book is 30 dollars, and I can always send it to England or anywhere else by taking it to my local post office, and whatever the shipping fee is, it is. We can always make use of PayPal to cover any adjustments. No way in the world do I want to deprive anyone who actually wants the books. Just get in touch, and we'll figure something out. Again, sorry!

Actually, Vol. 3 has been available since last year... please check the website. I'm actually finishing up Vol. 4 even as I type. Hope you enjoy! Website address: https://www.fantasticpress.store/

Oh yeah. I saw that you had written a book about the process of creating a trading card series. I want to get that too.

quote:

Originally posted by CardKing:
Actually, Vol. 3 has been available since last year... please check the website. I'm actually finishing up Vol. 4 even as I type. Hope you enjoy! Website address: https://www.fantasticpress.store/

Here are the two sketch cards I received with my copy of Vol. 2.