Vintage paperback trading card swap
I got hooked on collecting vintage paperback books in the early 90′s. At that time, you could still walk into a thrift store, or crusty bookshop and had a pretty decent chance of finding something cool.
Around 1995 I scanned some favorite covers form my collection and published a short run of trading cards as poject for a class that I was taking on how to operate a printing press. With the help of some publicity (blurb in ID magazine) I sold almost all 500 sets from the run in a few months. However, I ran out of labels before I ran out of cards, and about 50 sets of cards remained unsold due to insufficient packaging, and languished in deep storage for the next 10 years before being unearthed during a recent move.
The packaging for the cards was inspired by that of fireworks. Each pack is wrapped in red tissue paper, and a paper label (derived from a book cover of course) is applied to the front. The result feels like a 50 pack of Black Cats. Each card pack contains 12 different cards. Some of the covers depicted feature art by notable cover atists like Earl Bergey, and Rudolph Belarski. Others are just great covers or oddball books.
I have recreated the depleted package label, and will now be offering up 10 sets of trading cards to finkbuilt readers. Also included (outside the pack) will be 3 “doubles” for trading stock. Although the card project was successfull, I always felt a bit disappointed that due to the short press run, limited interest and distrubution, the trading cards would never actually be traded. So if you would like a set, I am now offering the cards not for sale, but for trade.
The rules of the trade:
Using the comments of this post, make me an offer to trade. Just post an actual photograph (photo required) — exactly 4oo 300 pixels square — and description of the item (or whatever) that you would like to trade for one (1) pack of vintage paperback trading cards. At the end of June, I will choose 10 traders and we can make the swap. Postage to be paid by the respective senders.
If you need help posting an img tag, or need hosting for your image, just email me and I will be glad to help you out.
steve-at-finkbuilt.com
Who wants a set of cards?
What a great idea, Steve! I’ll take a look around and see what I’ve got that’s TRADE-worthy.
I’ll trade you for a box of paperclips.
steve
Steve,
I have a VHS of a Nova episode documenting the effort to get the B-29 “Kee Bird” flying again. It was stuck in the Greenland arctic for nearly 50 years until Darryl Greenamyer and his team began their adventure to revive it.
Lou
How about your choice of a vintage (USED) video arcade game marquee?
A wind-up device with a shiny shiny brass key, in a polished Altoids box. When you wind it up, it makes a disturbing rattling noise. Not exactly this one, because this one is gone, but if you want to trade, I’ll make another.
(I’m required to say that this image is hosted on flickr)
Very nice!
3 offers I can’t refuse. Keep ‘em coming!
steve
Hi Steve, love your site!
If you choose, I would like to trade you for a pack of our “Rat Pack Playing Cards” We created these in honor of Frank Sinatra, my favorite singer of all time.
All the best,
Rick
Now, THAT’S what I call trading cards.
The trading window has now officially closed.
Thanks to all who participated.
Cheers-
steve
I’ll trade you an official Going Postal Pulp magazine t-shirt, and I’ll even make in your size!
Let’s try that again:
If you guys are interested in swapping cards or other stuff, feel free to check out http://www.swaptreasures.com .