Some "Buffy" collectors choose to collect props, others attend cons and snap selfies with the cast, me? I collect cards. Trading cards, photo cards, post cards... you name it. Back in February, I had impulse purchased a somewhat unusual item on UK Amazon after it was suggested to me: "Buffy the Vampire Slayer Series 1 & 2 Playing Cards" in a tin box. The item itself was only £3.99 and by the time I paid for postage, too, it came to just £6.46 -- not bad for a collector's item at all.
After ordering the mysterious cards, I had absolutely no idea what to expect. I knew that the item entailed two packs of playing cards in a box with a nice picture of Buffy herself on the front, but as there were not any informative reviews on the product, I had no idea if the item would be of good quality.
So when my parcel came, I immediately tore open the cardboard box it had arrived in. Upon opening it, I was delighted with what I was greeted with. The tin box is of very good quality and the images on the front are rather nice: the logo, a season five promotional shoot of Buffy and two images of how the packs of cards themselves look. These images are set against a purple and white background with indistinguishable text that is reminiscent of the visuals at the beginning of the opening theme for the series. The inside of the box is padded well and it houses the two packs of playing cards: series one has a card suit icon in each corner, the logo in the centre, "collector's edition" written above the logo, and "playing cards" underneath. It also follows the theme of the front of the tin with the indistinguishable text backdrop. As for series two, it looks quite different: it features the suit icons in the corner and the text backdrop, but this time, the series logo is at the top, "collector's edition playing cards" is written on the left and there is a photo of a promotional shoot from season four of Buffy herself on the right.
Now, as for the cards themselves, they are of very high quality. They have slightly rounded edges and a silky smooth texture which makes them delightful to shuffle. Unlike other playing cards that often feel waxy and slippery, these have a matte finish. As for the images on the cards, they depict images of "Buffy" characters, like you would expect; these images include stills from episodes and promotional shoots of the actors. The aces and clubs suits feature villains across the seasons, whereas the other suits feature the heroes. Each image has a soft, wispy white boarder around it, which reminds me somewhat of the boarders on the "Women of Sunnydale" trading cards. The backs of the cards have the most beautiful design that I have ever seen on collector's cards: series one has a purple ornate design with the "B" logo in the centre, and series two has a pink back with a design in the same fashion.
I am not sure when these cards first became available, but judging by what I have read on the internet, they have been hanging around since 2009. The company that manufacturers the cards (according to the tin) is Cards Inc.
You have a couple of options when it comes to buying these cards -- you can either buy both series packs separately, or you can buy the two sets in the tin (thus increasing the value of it). From my personal observations, I have seen people seriously overcharging for these cards on US eBay. As far as I am aware, this particular set is a UK exclusive, so American fans ought to be extra vigilant in making sure that they do not get ripped off. I have spoken to fellow UK fans who have spotted them in Poundland, but as stocks are liable to change, I would suggest that one buys them on UK Amazon.
Do any of my readers also have these cards? What do you think about them? Let me know!
X
After ordering the mysterious cards, I had absolutely no idea what to expect. I knew that the item entailed two packs of playing cards in a box with a nice picture of Buffy herself on the front, but as there were not any informative reviews on the product, I had no idea if the item would be of good quality.
So when my parcel came, I immediately tore open the cardboard box it had arrived in. Upon opening it, I was delighted with what I was greeted with. The tin box is of very good quality and the images on the front are rather nice: the logo, a season five promotional shoot of Buffy and two images of how the packs of cards themselves look. These images are set against a purple and white background with indistinguishable text that is reminiscent of the visuals at the beginning of the opening theme for the series. The inside of the box is padded well and it houses the two packs of playing cards: series one has a card suit icon in each corner, the logo in the centre, "collector's edition" written above the logo, and "playing cards" underneath. It also follows the theme of the front of the tin with the indistinguishable text backdrop. As for series two, it looks quite different: it features the suit icons in the corner and the text backdrop, but this time, the series logo is at the top, "collector's edition playing cards" is written on the left and there is a photo of a promotional shoot from season four of Buffy herself on the right.
Now, as for the cards themselves, they are of very high quality. They have slightly rounded edges and a silky smooth texture which makes them delightful to shuffle. Unlike other playing cards that often feel waxy and slippery, these have a matte finish. As for the images on the cards, they depict images of "Buffy" characters, like you would expect; these images include stills from episodes and promotional shoots of the actors. The aces and clubs suits feature villains across the seasons, whereas the other suits feature the heroes. Each image has a soft, wispy white boarder around it, which reminds me somewhat of the boarders on the "Women of Sunnydale" trading cards. The backs of the cards have the most beautiful design that I have ever seen on collector's cards: series one has a purple ornate design with the "B" logo in the centre, and series two has a pink back with a design in the same fashion.
I am not sure when these cards first became available, but judging by what I have read on the internet, they have been hanging around since 2009. The company that manufacturers the cards (according to the tin) is Cards Inc.
You have a couple of options when it comes to buying these cards -- you can either buy both series packs separately, or you can buy the two sets in the tin (thus increasing the value of it). From my personal observations, I have seen people seriously overcharging for these cards on US eBay. As far as I am aware, this particular set is a UK exclusive, so American fans ought to be extra vigilant in making sure that they do not get ripped off. I have spoken to fellow UK fans who have spotted them in Poundland, but as stocks are liable to change, I would suggest that one buys them on UK Amazon.
Do any of my readers also have these cards? What do you think about them? Let me know!
X