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gracecollector
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Show-embossed Pacific cards are an interesting footnote in collecting circles. Since information about this program is hard to come by, I'm going to attempt to use this thread to create an archive of information about these cards to help collectors identify what they have, and what they might expect to find. Any help from other collectors to fill in the blanks on missing information is appreciated. I picked up 31 different Mark Grace's at the National, bringing my total to 58 different examples of these cards - so this is helping me get organized as well.
The Pacific Trading Cards "Get Embossed" Program
Beginning in 1997 and running through 2003, card manufacturer Pacific Trading Cards offered a unique collecting opportunity at major hobby trade shows. Collectors were allowed to open packs of Pacific cards at their booth, then have one card from each pack embossed with a special show stamp (a metal die that left a raised imprint on the card). At the end of the show, the die stamp was destroyed to prevent additional cards being made. The pack opener could choose whatever one card in their pack they wanted stamped - usually superstar cards were chosen or in some instances player collector's favorite players. Cards were embossed "on the spot" at the show. There is no way of knowing how many cards of any one player were stamped. At first, Pacific only allowed packs of the current year to be stamped (some 1997 shows), but that soon changed to any Pacific pack from any year. There may have been a charge for having the card stamped - I've heard $3 per card charge but have not been able to verify that, and my own memory is hazy on that aspect. Pacific's goal with the program was to get collectors opening packs of their new products and creating excitement at shows. Pacific lost its MLB baseball license in 2001, so from 2001-2003 most stops on the program were hockey related shows.
At first, the embossed cards sold pretty well on the secondary market. It was common to see semi-stars selling for $5-$10 each, stars for more. Sales have a high degree of variance though. Interest in these cards has declined somewhat, although certain players with dedicated collectors continue to have surprising sales when they come to market. Lack of information on these cards hasn't helped popularity.
The information that follows I will try to keep updated. First is a list of known show stops on the "Get Embossed" program, and second are images of the die stamps that I've been able to find.
Pacific Trading Cards "Get Embossed" Program Stops
1997:
Super Bowl XXXI (Miami), Cleveland National 18, Tri-Star San Francisco Labor Day, Montreal Fall, Vancouver Fall, Toronto Fall Expo
1998:
Tuff Stuff Richmond Va, Super Bowl XXXII (San Diego), Vancouver Spring, Toronto Spring Expo, Philly Sportsfest, Tri-Star Houston, Tri-Star Kansas City (June), Tri-Star Philadelphia, Chicago National 19, Tri-Star San Francisco, Tri-Star New York NJ area, Tri-Star Kansas City (Oct), Montreal Fall, Tri-Star St Louis, Tri-Star Costa Mesa, Toronto Fall Expo, Chicago Sun Times, Tri-Star Atlanta, Hawaiian Trade Conference 13
1999:
Super Bowl XXXIII (Miami), Montreal Spring, Toronto Spring Expo, Sportsfest Philly, WSCCA Seattle, MLB All Star FanFest Boston, Atlanta National 20, Sportsfest Chicago, Montreal Fall, Toronto Fall Expo
2000:
Super Bowl XXXIV (Atlanta), NHL Fantasy (Toronto), Toronto Spring Expo, Toronto Fall Expo, Chicago Sportsfest, NHL All Star Game Toronto, Quebec Montreal Spring, Quebec Montreal Fall, Quebec Charlesbourg, MLB All Star Fanfest Atlanta
2001:
Quebec Montreal Spring, Quebec Montreal Fall, Toronto Spring Expo, National Cleveland 22, MLB All Star Fanfest Seattle
2002:
Toronto Fall, Stockholm Sweden, Quebec Montreal Fall, National Chicago 23
2003:
NHL Draft June
Pacific Trading Cards "Get Embossed" Show Stamps
1997:
1998:
1999:
2000:
2001:
2002:
2003:
Images of show-embossed cards (photo credit: [MENTION=7453]mouschi[/MENTION])
Hope this helps anyone interested in these cards. And if you have any updates, please comment!
The Pacific Trading Cards "Get Embossed" Program
Beginning in 1997 and running through 2003, card manufacturer Pacific Trading Cards offered a unique collecting opportunity at major hobby trade shows. Collectors were allowed to open packs of Pacific cards at their booth, then have one card from each pack embossed with a special show stamp (a metal die that left a raised imprint on the card). At the end of the show, the die stamp was destroyed to prevent additional cards being made. The pack opener could choose whatever one card in their pack they wanted stamped - usually superstar cards were chosen or in some instances player collector's favorite players. Cards were embossed "on the spot" at the show. There is no way of knowing how many cards of any one player were stamped. At first, Pacific only allowed packs of the current year to be stamped (some 1997 shows), but that soon changed to any Pacific pack from any year. There may have been a charge for having the card stamped - I've heard $3 per card charge but have not been able to verify that, and my own memory is hazy on that aspect. Pacific's goal with the program was to get collectors opening packs of their new products and creating excitement at shows. Pacific lost its MLB baseball license in 2001, so from 2001-2003 most stops on the program were hockey related shows.
At first, the embossed cards sold pretty well on the secondary market. It was common to see semi-stars selling for $5-$10 each, stars for more. Sales have a high degree of variance though. Interest in these cards has declined somewhat, although certain players with dedicated collectors continue to have surprising sales when they come to market. Lack of information on these cards hasn't helped popularity.
The information that follows I will try to keep updated. First is a list of known show stops on the "Get Embossed" program, and second are images of the die stamps that I've been able to find.
Pacific Trading Cards "Get Embossed" Program Stops
1997:
Super Bowl XXXI (Miami), Cleveland National 18, Tri-Star San Francisco Labor Day, Montreal Fall, Vancouver Fall, Toronto Fall Expo
1998:
Tuff Stuff Richmond Va, Super Bowl XXXII (San Diego), Vancouver Spring, Toronto Spring Expo, Philly Sportsfest, Tri-Star Houston, Tri-Star Kansas City (June), Tri-Star Philadelphia, Chicago National 19, Tri-Star San Francisco, Tri-Star New York NJ area, Tri-Star Kansas City (Oct), Montreal Fall, Tri-Star St Louis, Tri-Star Costa Mesa, Toronto Fall Expo, Chicago Sun Times, Tri-Star Atlanta, Hawaiian Trade Conference 13
1999:
Super Bowl XXXIII (Miami), Montreal Spring, Toronto Spring Expo, Sportsfest Philly, WSCCA Seattle, MLB All Star FanFest Boston, Atlanta National 20, Sportsfest Chicago, Montreal Fall, Toronto Fall Expo
2000:
Super Bowl XXXIV (Atlanta), NHL Fantasy (Toronto), Toronto Spring Expo, Toronto Fall Expo, Chicago Sportsfest, NHL All Star Game Toronto, Quebec Montreal Spring, Quebec Montreal Fall, Quebec Charlesbourg, MLB All Star Fanfest Atlanta
2001:
Quebec Montreal Spring, Quebec Montreal Fall, Toronto Spring Expo, National Cleveland 22, MLB All Star Fanfest Seattle
2002:
Toronto Fall, Stockholm Sweden, Quebec Montreal Fall, National Chicago 23
2003:
NHL Draft June
Pacific Trading Cards "Get Embossed" Show Stamps
1997:
1998:
1999:
2000:
2001:
2002:
2003:
Images of show-embossed cards (photo credit: [MENTION=7453]mouschi[/MENTION])
Hope this helps anyone interested in these cards. And if you have any updates, please comment!
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