Pulled From the Pack: Classic Toys Cards!

Redartz:  Hello folks; surprise! We interrupt our usual "Follow the Leader" with a look at some titanic trading cards and the toys they depict. A good friend of mine chanced upon these cards recently and brought them to my attention. After ogling all the fabulous vintage toys featured on them, it was  apparent that  I'd need to share them with you. 

The set is called "Classic Toys Trading Cards", and they were printed in 1993. Beyond that I have no information about them; perhaps someone among you will know more.  The cards' backs contain a brief description of the item, along with a then-current value for the toy. This makes me think that they were affiliated with a price guide magazine of some sort. The toys depicted represent a nice assortment from the 50's to the 70's. I had a few of them (View Masters, Matchbox cars, Spirograph, and that Beany and Cecil Jack-in-the-box) and would have liked quite a few more. 

Have any of you encountered these cards before? Do they bring back any memories of forgotten toys? Which did you have, and which would you have wanted? And what toys do you think should have been included in this set which, apparently, were not? Let's talk toys this week...

Pulled from the Pack: Marvel and DC Trading Cards!

Martinex1: I have a very simple question for you all today... did you collect comic book trading cards? And if so, which did you collect and what were your favorites?  Honestly, I only dabbled in it and never kept the cards.   One series I did enjoy was from Marvel (~1990) and it featured the first issue covers from many titles. Before the internet and access to any detail necessary about the genre, that series was very cool for a collector. But I just never kept them in order or in a neat fashion like my actual comics.  I am curious why you did or did not collect trading cards; share your memories and thoughts with us here at BitBA! Here are some examples that may jog your memories.

Pulled from the Pack: Marvel Calendars!

Martinex1: I am going to keep my own comments pretty sparse today, as I feel the pictured samples here speak for themselves.  The annual Marvel Calendars that ran through the Bronze Age were special.  Each published calendar was itself an event with thematic influence, fantastic art, and interesting tidbits.  

I particularly enjoyed the 1976 Bicentennial edition with our favorite heroes clad in revolutionary garb.  But no matter the year, I liked reading the daily notes, anniversaries, and bullpen blurbs.  The calendars were another way that Marvel reached its customers and readership and brought them into the fold.  It was FOOM, Bullpen Bulletins, and Stan's Soapbox rolled into a beautiful spiral bound once in a year package.

So here is a large smattering of examples from those days long ago.  Which were your favorites?  Which did you own?  And did you manage to keep these nostalgic collectibles intact?  (Thank you to the posters, and collectors on the world wide web for all of the various photos and making this post possible). Cheers!