Monster Trading Cards

[Mike Scott]

I guess Zach got in there 'cause he's still around.  It would be nice to have a '60s hosts set!

[Hepcat]

Someone wrote on my Gunther Dedmund card! Guess I'll have to throw that one away.

Bummer! I hate getting cards like that.

[horrorhunter]

I guess Zach got in there 'cause he's still around.  It would be nice to have a '60s hosts set!

That it would. Unfortunately we probably won't see any more of these considering they are dated 2009 & 2010. I didn't even know about them until the other day when I saw the promo video on You Tube.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=gGwOKSym7xE

[horrorhunter]

Bummer! I hate getting cards like that.

Yeah, I lucked out and scored an auto. If they really wanted to spice up the set with chase cards they could do nudies of Penny Dreadful, Ms. Monster, Marlena Midnite, and Sally The Zombie Cheerleader. Those would be worth chasin'! 

[horrorhunter]

Thought I would revisit the old Ugly Buttons (Topps, 1967). Obviously not trading cards, but they filled the same role back in the day so I thought their inclusion appropriate. There are 24 in the set of which I have these 14. The art is by Norm Saunders and Wally Wood, two of the best trading card/comic/monster artists of the Monsterkid '60s. These were sold one to a wrapper for 5 cents, much like a group of trading cards.



Box:


Wrapper:


http://www.normansaunders.com/UglyBts%2C01.html

I managed to get the 14 posted above at eBay auction very inexpensively- 70 bucks including postage for the lot. I've been trying to finish the set but everytime they are listed on evilBay it's a BIN for around $20-$50 each...ouch. I keep lurking and waiting, hoping to complete the set someday for a reasonable price. Anyway, I have those 14 and they look great on display. These things scream '60s MONSTER. 

[Hepcat]

I was in high school by the time the Ugly Buttons were released and so I wasn't aware of them at the time. Now though I think they're wild cool and would love to have a set.

[horrorhunter]

I was in high school by the time the Ugly Buttons were released and so I wasn't aware of them at the time. Now though I think they're wild cool and would love to have a set.

When I first saw the eBay auction for the 14 above I had never heard of Ugly Buttons and was in the dark about them, but they just blew me away. I thought they must be from the '60s by their look, and I kinda recognized Norm Saunders artwork from Mars Attacks. The seller didn't know what they were either and they were listed as something generic like Monster Pinbacks. If they had been listed correctly I would have never won them for (less than) my high bid of $73. After I won them I did some research and found out what they are, and how lucky I got. I hope to complete the set someday, but I'm frugal and patient so I bide my time. I've never seen a wrapper for sale, and a damaged box was out of my price range. Imagine finding a full box of these in an antique mall for 20 or 30 bucks. It's those kind of dreams that drive me to keep looking.

[horrorhunter]

My binder finally arrived from across the pond. This deluxe padded binder was produced for the Hammer Horror Series 1 Trading Cards (Strictly Ink, 2008) and limited to 300. I also received the Ingrid Pitt Binder Exclusive Autograph Card, and one of the original Sell Sheets. Scans of all follow.





Back:




The binder is so large it will hold all of my Hammer Horror cards. At the risk of geeking out here I just gotta say, this binder is so beautiful in person I catch myself staring at it...mesmerized. I also have many more Hammer Horror cards to post in the next few days, including more autograph cards. These things are really gorgeous! 

[Mord]

 Congrats, bro, this is so freakin' incredible, I'm (almost) speechless! Love that binder & the Ingrid card (and every Hammer card you've posted). I'm still checking out your Hammer scans with envy.

[horrorhunter]

Congrats, bro, this is so freakin' incredible, I'm (almost) speechless! Love that binder & the Ingrid card (and every Hammer card you've posted). I'm still checking out your Hammer scans with envy.

Thanks, pal. I'm glad you like them.

Radickal Trading Cards in UK still have two of these binders for sale. I've posted a link to the evilBay listing in case anyone wants to order one. After those two are gone who knows where or when any will become available. I can't say enough about how freakin' awesome these things are to display your Hammer Horror Trading Cards in. 

http://www.ebay.com/itm/141353010971?_trksid=p2060778.m1438.l2648&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[Mord]

 I'd buy it in a heartbeat if I had the cards. Btw, do you know anyone that has that licensed Hammer Dracula cape clasp (from "Taste the Blood of Dracula")? I've wanted one of those for a while now.

[horrorhunter]

I'd buy it in a heartbeat if I had the cards. Btw, do you know anyone that has that licensed Hammer Dracula cape clasp (from "Taste the Blood of Dracula")? I've wanted one of those for a while now.

I don't know about the Hammer Dracula cape clasp, sorry.

The same seller in that link has both base sets of Hammer Horror Trading Cards for less than $10 each. They happily combine shipping (which is a concern from UK) so after the hefty binder shipping fee the rest of the order would probably be included with free shipping. I'm not affiliated with the seller and don't have a horse in the race moneywise. I'm just putting this out there for my UMA brethren should they want to get the best deal on some truly awesome Hammer merch. Also, Ilka with Radickal Trading Cards is very nice and professional. I was shorted card #54 from Hammer Horror Series 1 (CMA, 1995) from another seller and a few days ago I desperately sent emails to everyone I could think of to complete the set. I bought one from Rick Stoner, but not knowing this, Ilka hunted one up and sent it to me free with my binder order after receiving my email days ago. She's a sweetheart.

[Mord]

 Now I'm interested. Do you mind me asking how much the shipping was (& how long it took to get here)?

[Mike Scott]

Cool binder! Just what a collection of Hammer cards needs!

[horrorhunter]

Now I'm interested. Do you mind me asking how much the shipping was (& how long it took to get here)?

22 bucks and a little over a week. They have a few of the chase cards too. If you jump go all in and get 'em shipped free! 

Remember, the two sets are by Strictly Ink (2008, 2010). Radickal Trading Cards also has chase cards for Series 1 & 2 of the Hammer Horror Cards by Cornerstone (1995,1996). The Cornerstone Hammer Horror Series 2 (1996) base set is readily available from US sellers via eBay for $10-$15 or even cheaper sometimes (I saw one offered for like $3 or $4!) so you'll want that one to put in the binder, might as well get any chase/promo cards for it while you're at it. The Cornerstone Series 1 set is hard to find and pricey (around 50 bucks), so you may want to hold off on chase/promos for that one or not. I would go ahead and grab for both. 9-pocket sheets can be bought at Wal-Mart for 35 sheets/$5 (Ultra-Pro, acid-free, no PVC), and the binder comes with 10 sheets to store the Series 1 card set in. Before long you won't be able to find these binders unless you get lucky, and then probably drop big bucks.