Card of the Day: Johnny Manziel 2014 Topps Chrome “Money Manziel” Inscription Auto

Card of the Day: Stephen King 2017 Upper Deck Goodwin Champions “They all float!” Inscription Auto

Brian Gray Inscription Autos Highlight Leaf’s 2016 National Promos

Leaf Trading Cards is next on the list of manufacturers to unveil their plans for the 2016 National Sports Collectors Convention, which takes place Aug. 3-7 in Atlantic City, NJ.  Historically, Leaf is known to have one of the larger booths setup in the corporate area.  You can’t attend the National without stopping by their booth at least once.  They always have a lot of cool cards and memorabilia on display which will be used in upcoming products.

The following Leaf products are eligible for their case break promotion:

• 2016 Leaf Pop Century
• 2016 In The Game Used Hockey
• 2016 Leaf Metal Tennis
• any Leaf U.S. Army All-American Football
• 2016 Leaf Genesis Hockey

Anyone who opens a case of these products will receive a 2016 Best of the National box.  Inside these exclusive boxes you’ll find graded rookie cards of Kobe Bryant, Steph Curry, and Michael Jordan.  Leaf has also thrown in some NFL players, autographs, and memorabilia.

The following Leaf products are eligible for their box break promotion:

• 2016 Leaf Pop Century
• 2016 In The Game Used Hockey
• 2016 Leaf Metal Tennis
• 2016 Leaf Genesis Hockey

Anyone who opens (2) boxes of these products will receive a Babe Ruth Yankee Stadium seat relic containing the National Sports Collectors Convention Stamp numbered to (10).

Leaf’s CEO, Brian Gray, is not one to hold back when it comes to voicing his opinion on what he thinks needs to be done in order to make the hobby better.  Collectors attending the NSCC can keep an eye out for some exclusive Brian Gray autographed cards featuring fun inscriptions.  If you’ve got something cool your looking to sell, Leaf might be interested.  They’re giving away prizes to those people who sell them a card.

2013 Press Pass Platinum Cuts Inscription Edition Preview – Do We Really Need Another Cut Signature Driven Product?

I have to be honest.  The hobby doesn’t need another all cut signature driven product.  Panini, Leaf, TRISTAR, and Historic Autographs already do plenty of them.  We don’t need another.  Is there a spot for them?  Sure.  But just because a few companies do something doesn’t mean you have to join in.  Competition is good for collectors, but when it comes to cut signature products you’re not really competing for much.  When an entire product is based on the signature itself, design goes straight out the window.  Nobody gives two cents about the border design or if the card is encapsulated in a Beckett holder.  With each release the market gets flooded with the same signatures.  Of course they all contain cards we would love to pull, but the chances of that happening are slim to none.

2013 Press Pass Platinum Cuts Inscription Edition is Press Pass’s first venture with a cut signature product.  With 2,000 “1 of 1” cuts in an already saturated market, I’m sorry to say I don’t see this going too far.  I also don’t think cut signatures should be made of people that are still living.  Personally, I’d like to see some fancy insert cards made of these people.  Do something different.

Leaf’s Bringing Lombardi’s First Relics To Collectors With Lombardi Legacy

Leaf just released the sales sheet for 2012 Lombardi Legacy and all I can say is WOW!!!  Every box will come with (4) base cards, (2) inscription autographs, and (1) Vince Lombardi worn jacket relic card.  Up until now, Lombardi hasn’t had any relic cards.  Leaf will also be randomly inserting redemption cards that can be redeemed for a Vince Lombardi signed check.

Let’s recap:

• (4) base cards
• (2) inscription autographs – every autographed card in the set has an inscription
• (1) Vince Lombardi worn jacket relic card
• Randomly inserted redemptions that can be redeemed for signed Lombardi checks

This product looks absolutely amazing, and it doesn’t even have an NFL license.  This is exactly how a non-licensed product should be done.  To have a successful non-licensed product the manufacturer must approach the product with an open mind and a unique perspective.  No cookie cutter products from Leaf.

Press Pass ’12 Racing Inscription Quantity List

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If you haven’t noticed by now, drivers within 2012 Press Pass Racing included some unique inscriptions.  As you can see above, Landon Cassill went a little crazy.  Below is the entire inscription quantity list.

• Marcos Ambrose – Devil Racer (9)
• Trevor Bayne – Tbayne + fish (2 Silver, 2 Red, 2 Blue, 2 Sig Series Tire, 2 Sig Series Glove)
• Greg Biffle – Stocks to watch MMM, F, S, X, AA, IBM (6 Red auto w/ inscription, 4 Red inscription only)
• Landon Cassill – Birthplace circled, glasses/moustache drawn on (1 Blue), “Call Me XOXOXO” (1 Silver), Grocery List (1 Silver), Gumby w/ sketch (1 Silver), Ebay buy it now $50 (1 Silver), whale sketch (1 Silver), I’m playing Call of Duty right now! (1 Silver), Go Dale Jr! (1 Silver), Oh no! Shark! (1 Silver)
• Jimmie  Johnson – 5X Champ (5 Silver, 2 Red, 3 Blue)
• Mark Martin – #5 (10 Silver)
• Paul Menard –  Burn Rubber (4 Silver), Thunder and Lightning plus hands (5 Silver)
• David Reutimann – Beak (5 Silver, 5 Red)
• Tony Stewart – Smoke (10 Sig Series Shoe)

Forged Inscriptions

Inscriptions are a fun way to make autographs more collectible.  These inscriptions can range from a funny nickname to a high achievement such as MVP or ROY.  But there is a darker side to the inscription world.  Scammers will take a simple autographed card, and add in their own inscription thinking it will increase its value.  Thats why its always a good idea to check with the manufacturer to see which cards have inscriptions and how many were made.

The CJ Spiller card below is a great example of someone adding their own inscription.  When compared to some of his other inscriptions, you can clearly see the handwriting differences.  Plus the ink on the inscription is much lighter.  Most of the time, inscription autographs usually appear with on-card signatures.  Probably because it allows for more room to write.  Rarely will you find an inscription on a sticker autograph.  In this hobby, not only are the signatures forged.

For more info, be sure to check out this post over on FCB.