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A trading card (or collectible card) is a small card, usually made out of cardboard or thick paper, which usually contains an image of a certain person (fictional or real) and a short description of the picture, along with other text (statistics, attacks, or trivia)^[1]. There is wide variation among different types of cards as to the configuration of objects, the content on the card, and even the material used to make the card^[2].

Trading cards are traditionally associated with sports; baseball cards are especially well-known^[1]. Cards dealing with other subjects are often considered a separate category from sports cards, known as non-sports trading cards. These often feature cartoons, comic book characters, television series, or movie stills.

As with playing cards, which they generally resemble, trading cards are often used to play various games^[1]. In the 1990s, cards designed specifically for playing games became popular enough to develop into a distinct category of collectible card games. These tend to use either fantasy subjects or sports as the basis for gameplay.

[edit] Origin

From approximately 1887 to 1901, small cloth strips were circulated with the names of baseball players on them^[2]. These original cards were very rare, and are worth up to 800 USD today^[2].

From 1902 to 1935, printed cardboard baseball cards originated as gimmicks distributed with tobacco products, bubble gum, and other snacks (similar to prizes in cereal boxes today)^[1]. During this period, there was wide variation in the production of cards, mostly because the style was new and distributors had not yet decided on a particular style. Many cards also had rare flaws and misprints because manufacturers were still experimenting with different production methods^[2].

After 1936, most of the card manufacturers had decided on a certain style, and most cards remained the same. The cards themselves ceased to be packaged along with other products and became a product in their own right^[2].

Today, the development of the Internet has given rise to various online communities, through which members can trade collectible cards with each other.

[edit] Value

The value of a trading card depends on a combination of the subject's popularity, the scarcity of the card, and the card's condition^[1]. In some cases, especially with older cards that preceded the advent of card collecting as a widespread hobby, they have become collectors' items of considerable value. In recent years, many sports cards have not necessarily been appreciated as much in value due to mass production, although some manufacturers have used limited editions and smaller print runs to boost value^[1].

[edit] References