Collector Club
Catch up on the latest from Topps! Whether you’re collecting the latest football hits from the Topps Chrome range, following special edition drops, or keeping an eye on new innovations like Topps NOW and curated on-demand sets, this section covers it all. Stay ahead of upcoming checklists, limited print runs, and hobby-exclusive content.
Topps Trading Card News
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Topps has informed customers that the 2025 Topps Chrome Formula 1 Hobby Box will not arrive in December as planned. In an email sent to buyers, the company said the …
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Lewis Hamilton has unveiled a unique 1-of-1 Ferrari trading card produced by Topps, revealing the piece on social media in the build-up to recent Las Vegas Grand Prix. The card …
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With the new Topps UEFA Club Competitions Deco 2025/26 set coming out this week, we thought it’d remiss of us not to showcase some of the coolest cards in the …
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Autograph hunters, rejoice! The legend Ayrton Senna will have his first-ever autographed card appear in the upcoming 2025 Topps Dynasty F1 set that’s released later this month. Senna is regarded …
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Topps is officially back on the court. For the first time in 16 years, fully licensed Topps NBA trading cards are returning, after Fanatics, regained the NBA trading card licence on …
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BUDDS, the UK’s leading specialist auctioneers of sports memorabilia has officially taken its first steps into the world of trading cards with the launch of its latest auction featuring over …
Collector ClubFrequently asked Questions
All you need to know about Topps sports cards – Answered!
Who are Topps and how long have they been making trading cards?
Topps is one of the most iconic trading card companies in the world, originally founded in 1938. It began producing sports trading cards in the early 1950s and has since become a major name in the hobby, especially for baseball and football cards.
What sports does Topps produce trading cards for?
Topps creates trading cards for a wide range of sports including football (soccer), baseball, Formula 1, and wrestling. Their UEFA Champions League and Bundesliga football cards are especially popular among UK and European collectors.
What are Topps Chrome cards and why are they popular?
Topps Chrome is a premium version of Topps cards that features glossy, metallic-style finishes and high-quality printing. These cards are sought after for their sharp designs, on-card autographs, and rare parallels like Refractors and Superfractors.
What’s the difference between Topps and Topps Finest or Topps Heritage?
Topps is the core brand, while sets like Topps Finest offer a more modern, flashy design with premium finishes. Topps Heritage focuses on vintage card designs, reimagining modern players in the style of classic sets from the past.
Are Topps trading cards available in the UK and Europe?
Yes, Topps has a strong presence in the UK and across Europe. You can find their products in local hobby stores, supermarkets, and through official online retailers, including Topps.com and other approved sports card retailers.
What is a Topps Rookie Card and why do collectors value them?
A rookie card is a player’s first official appearance in a Topps set, and it’s often one of the most valuable and desirable cards in their career. Collectors seek rookie cards for investment purposes and long-term hobby value.
Does Topps produce non-sport or entertainment trading cards?
Yes, Topps is well known for its entertainment cards, having produced sets for Star Wars, Garbage Pail Kids, and WWE, among others. These cards appeal to fans of pop culture as well as traditional collectors.
How can I tell if a Topps card is rare or limited edition?
Rare Topps cards often feature serial numbers, special foil designs, or unique colour parallels. Cards with low print runs (e.g. /25, /10, or 1/1) are especially valuable and usually found in hobby-exclusive products.
What’s the difference between hobby boxes and retail boxes from Topps?
Hobby boxes typically include guaranteed hits like autographs or relics and offer access to exclusive inserts. Retail boxes are more affordable and widely available, but they usually have fewer premium cards and lower odds for big pulls.
How often does Topps release new sports card sets each year?
Topps releases dozens of sets throughout the year, depending on the sport and product line. Major annual releases include Topps Flagship, Chrome, Stadium Club, and Heritage, along with special edition sets and online exclusives.
A history of Topps trading cards
Founded back in 1938 Topps was founded by Morris and Joseph Shorin in New York. Initially, the company produced chewing gum, which laid the groundwork for its future in trading cards. In 1950 the company released its first baseball trading cards which initially struggling to impress, took off thanks to the popularity of stars such as Micky Mantle and Willie Mays.
In the 1970s, Topps was finding success with its Kellog’s and Traded baseball card sets amongst others, with chase cards including baseball Hall-of-Famers Ozzie Smith, Mike Schmidt and George Brett. It was around this time Topps expanded its offerings to include a multitude of other US-focused sports including American football, basketball, and ice hockey, further solidifying its position in the fledgling collectibles market.
Naturally, pop culture also played a huge part in the growth of the collectibles market, and Topps were sure to be a part of that, releasing card sets based on legendary IP such as the Marvel Universe, Star Trek, Planet of the Apes and Star Wars. As well as more niche US entertainment cards such as Mork and Mindy, Welcome back Kotter and Buck Rogers.
Topps continued to thrive in the years to come, but unfortunately for collectors of the time, cards were starting to lose their charm. The 1980s and 1990s are considered a bad time for trading cards in general within the US, particularly sports cards. Known affectionately as the “junk wax era”, this time saw manufacturers overproduce cards, flooding the market with a massive supply that significantly lowered the value of most individual cards due to the imbalance with demand.
The late 1980s did have one bright spot, particularly for European collectors. In 1989 Topps Europe was founded as Merlin Publishing Ltd. Interestingly, their very first sets in the European market were actually made for the Scottish Professional Football League, not the more popular English leagues. It wasn’t until 1994 that their first Premier League sets were released to the public. The European wing of the company grew at great pace in the years that followed with licenses secured for the UEFA Champions League, Bundesliga, Formula 1 and the WWE.
The 2000s saw Topps explode in popularity amongst the younger collectors with the creation of Match Attax in 2006. The trading card game has been a mainstay in UK for almost two decades with cards being traded amongst youngsters and adults alike. German collectors were also treated to Bundesliga Match Atta cards from January 2009 onwards, with the sets enjoying an equal level of popularity.
In January 2022 Topps were acquired by Fanatics for around $500 million, with the brand retaining its original name and IP. With Fanatics having long-term rights deals with the MLB, MLB Players Association, NBA, NBA Players Association and NFL Player Association, the future looks bright.
At the start of 2025, with Topps arguably at its peak in terms of worldwide acclaim, the company launched “1-of-1 Day”, a real ode to hardcore collectors that celebrates the hobby’s rarest and most coveted cards across all mediums. Some of the showcased cards included Tom Brady, Harry Houdini, Babe Ruth and even Robert Oppenheimer, father of the atomic bomb.