Here are 6 cards from the "McGruff The Crime Dog" 18-card promo set. I know it's a promo because it says the cards are free on the back of card #1. What isn't said on any of the cards is the manufacturer nor the date. It appears the set was given out for free by the McGruff.org website in some way but the source isn't stated.

Each card gives a tip for kids on dealing with bullies, being safe online, and staying safe in general.

Without knowing the date, I figured I'd show it among other oddball cards. I had never seen this set before about a month and a half ago.

"Broders" changed their names to "ACEOs", "Art Cards", and "Customs", and somehow became respectable.

Jess

I would like to see a real Broder card not one done in the style, do any still exist?

John

quote:

Originally posted by JOHN LEVITT:
Jess

I would like to see a real Broder card not one done in the style, do any still exist?

John

Search for "Broder" on ebay in the sports cards category. There are plenty out there, and there are people who collect them as a specialty.

quote:

Originally posted by Bill Mullins:

quote:

Originally posted by JOHN LEVITT:
Jess

I would like to see a real Broder card not one done in the style, do any still exist?

John

Search for "Broder" on ebay in the sports cards category. There are plenty out there, and there are people who collect them as a specialty.

The ones produced by Ed and Rob Broder are the true cards. Mostly in the 70s and the early 80s, mostly sports cards, many in black and white.

After they had early success doing these cards at a time when only Topps held the rights, "Broder" became a catch all term for unlicensed cards. Eventually Topps dropped the hammer on the Broders, father and son.

In the 80s and early 90s a lot of "Broders" were made to appear to be promo cards or product cards for sets and merchandise that did not exist. Much of this new batch of unlimited cardboard was in the variety of shiny, flashy looking cards of superstar players or hot rookies that often-fooled novice collectors into spending lots of money on junk. They had nothing to do with the actual Broder family by that time.

Many original "Broders" and all the copycat "Broders" can be found all over eBay. Technically they aren't worth a thing, but that doesn't seem to bother buyers.

As discussed here on Card Talk, over the past 5-10 years there have been a whole slew of high quality "promo cards" showing up on ebay, most of which look very professionally made.

There seems to be cards like these for EVERY Star Wars, Marvel or DC Comics superhero movie, Disney film, sci-fi, and CW TV show. These new cards seem to immediately surface with the release of every hot new movie or show. Often the same few ebay sellers have them. None of them are licensed products, I am sure.

Space race/travel and promo card collectors are very familar with a 5-card "Apollo 11 25th Anniversary set given out at Citgo gas stations in 1994. It was easy to find at local shows and online by the late 90's. Even 30 years later, you can find sellers who have plenty available.

Perhaps lesser-known except to longtime promo collectors is this 3-card "The American Bald Eagle" set also given out at Citgo stations in 1994. The cards measure 3 1/2 x 5 1/2 inches - an odd size which not every collector appreciates. It seems fewer people kept them back then but you can still find a set at a reasonable price if you want one.

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

Adding to the parade of oddball cards are these 8 unnumbered ones from the 12-card "Frogs" set (Impact, undated). In the middle is the flip-open envelope they came in. It's illustrated on both sides.

These colorful cards are undated but said to be from 1992. The backs have brief text describing the frog species on the fronts. The envelope refers to the cards as "prints" though they are standard card size. The set is said to have been a vending machine product but I don't know remember anything like that coming out of a vending machine especially a set of 12 with its own box. It looks more like something you'd see for sale by the register in a bookstore.

I don't think I've seen another set of frog cards before. I had to have it.

Here are 4 cards from the 14-card "Soap Stars" set (Jim Warren, 1989). The seller who had it said the cards were sold in packs but I believe he was thinking about that Star Pics "All My Children" set (or the "Soaps of ABC" subset of that set) which was released around the same time.

These unnumbered cards also feature soap opera actors/actresses of the 1980's but not just from ABC. Shows from CBS and NBC are also represented. It appears to be a promo set or prototype set but it's weird that it includes shows from the 3 major networks of the time. The cards don't bear any copyright info. They just say "Created and produced exclusively by Jim Warren" and "Distributed by Red Star" though with an address. It's possible the set was given out at a trade show or fan event with the permission of the networks and producers but it might be an elaborate Broder.

Anyway, the most familiar face is that of Charles Shaughnessey who years later played the dad on "The Nanny."

The cards not shown feature the following:

Terrell Anthony
Barbara Crampton
Peter Barton
Michael Bays
Paul Johansson
John Loprieno
Brad Maule
Robin Mattson
Lonnie Quinn
Billy Warlock

On the previous page of this thread is a post about a set of cards showcasing award-winning poets of the late 20th century (those still living in the mid-90's). Here's another 14-card set by the same manufacturer, but this one, "Major League Poet Cards: All Star Series" set (Mille Grazie Press, 1995), features famous poets who had passed away by 1995 with many having survived into the second half of the 20th century.

Like the other set, this one includes 12 cards, one per poet, plus a title card and a checklist/order form card. Not shown, is a promo/business card that shows four cards from this set.

Also like the other set, these card fronts feature artwork by David Oliveira with everyone in baseball caps (even Emily Dickinson). The print run was 2000 sets and they were sold through independent bookstores and "Poets and Writers" magazine and catalog.

More poet trading cards.

Here's a case of one 2-card promo set being a variation of the other. The Galaxi Novels promos are two unnumbered cards (Cardz Distribution, 1994) that promote a comic series while The Killzone promos are numbered P1 and P2 (Cardz Distribution, 1994) and they promote a related trading card set.

The Killzone P1 has the same front as one of the Galaxi Novels unnumbered promos and the Killzone P2 has the same front as the other Galaxi Novels promo but the backs are different as shown below. The Galaxi Novels promos appear to have been originally printed as Killzone cards but the backs are blacked-out except at the bottom to show the trademark and copyright information.

The Galaxi Novels card with the Killzone P2 front was inserted with the "Agent Three Zero: The Blue Sultan's Quest" #1 of IV Version B comic - not sure where the other one came from. The Killzone promos were sent to dealers.

I guess it was cheaper to just black out part of the backs, still leaving the Galaxi Novels logo rather than print different cards just for the comic but then you can't say Cardz did much to promote Galaxi Novels which didn't end up lasting long and the Killzone card set was never made.

The cards aren't worth much - at most a few bucks a piece with the Killzone promos having been rather hard to find in past years but easier to find these days.

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

PCE2008 lists 10 different "Red Devil Fireworks 1996" cards and that appears to be the set as no others have been seen since then. This is the "Sound Barrier" card that Todd listed.

The source of the cards was unknown in 2008 and I haven't been able to find that out since then either. I can only assume that they might have been given out at fireworks stands though I don't remember ever seeing cards at one.

These and others, including a 1997 and 1998 set, were printed on old-fashioned card stock and feature colorful artwork - often with a monster - so some collectors look for these.

And another "Red Devil Fireworks 1996" card. I haven't seen all the cards from this set, which I assume to be 10 cards now, but have seen 5 of them and 10 of the ones from the 1997 set. Most show monsters but this is the only one with a patriotic theme.

This might be the coolest Red Devil card. Who doesn't want a Laser Dragon?

Anybody know anything about cards produced by Flash International? Examples Ive found online seems to only feature movies from the 2000s.

I'm looking for any history of these cards, specifically how they were distributed and where.

I don't have any, but according to the promo posts below, Flash did cards for

Blade II, Amityville Horror, Cinderella Man, Aviator, Bourne, Brothers Grimm, Dawn of the Dead, Van Helsing, Fantastic Four, Batman Begins, and the Dark Knight.

I believe most if not all were numbered to 50.

I searched the threads here and saw a mention of one, rather a dispute on their legitimacy but I'm still unsure of their origin/distribution means. Promo-King has a listing referring to them as video promos, but nothing in the description beyond that.

quote:

Originally posted by David R:
I don't have any, but according to the promo posts below, Flash did cards for

Blade II, Amityville Horror, Cinderella Man, Aviator, Bourne, Brothers Grimm, Dawn of the Dead, Van Helsing, Fantastic Four, Batman Begins, and the Dark Knight.

I believe most if not all were numbered to 50.

See below discussion under Recent discovery, in the promo section.

There seems to be a general assumption that these Flash International cards are unlicensed (Broders). Normally, collectors are all over cards with print runs as small as 50 yet singles of these cards tend to sit on Ebay for months/"forever" even when they are priced as low as $10-20. That says the market is wary.

Years ago, I bought a Van Helsing card for $10-15 but became reluctant to pick up another FI card not long after. It's possible that it was some odd promotion as "new" stuff appears from the old days here and there. I won't throw away my Van Helsing just in case it is legit but I won't spring for another one until we get some good news.