Harry Potter, Hawk Tuah, and Topps Holiday

If there’s one thing J.R. Fickle loves, it’s holiday-themed stuff. Obviously Topps Holiday is at the top of the list — it’s cheap, it’s fun, it’s pretty, it’s all good players, and there’s basically an easter egg hunt in every box. We’ve talked about this before. You can’t just callously rifle through Topps Holiday like a breaker, because you might miss a photoshopped elf in the background, bringing a card’s value from $2 to $25. Not that we’re buying Topps Holiday just to flip cards with photoshopped elves on them… but it heightens the stakes a little. And it slows down the experience of opening a pack of cards and appreciating each one for the piece of art that it is. For instance…I think Fernando Tatis is on here somewhere:

One of the cool things about Topps Holiday is how it unabashedly embraces the kitsch of this time of year — especially the 2024 set, with over-the-top neon Santa, stocking, elf, and wreath (and sometimes reindeer – and maybe some other stuff we haven’t even caught yet). 

But Topps isn’t the only company embracing the holiday spirit with creative borders and backgrounds — Leaf’s Holiday Bonus Packs have been around for several years and can be had for under $10. You’ll get an autograph of… someone. Leaf has a pretty eclectic group of signers – from pickleballers to 73 year-old retired NFL Players. I have no idea if 2024 packs are coming (or when), but I usually grab a couple just to celebrate the design and randomness of players you can pull. And if they don’t release any this year, it’s off to eBay to buy a handful of 2023 or 2022 ones for $7-8 to open as we sit around drinking on Christmas Eve. 

Speaking of drinking… I would be remiss if I didn’t point out some of the OTHER random Christmas stuff I collect, led by vintage glasses. 

Do I have a problem? Yes. Do I acknowledge it? Also yes; very publicly in a weekly newsletter. Do I use it for good to help fellow collectors discover quirky randomness like “old Christmas glasses?” I like to think so. 

Here is my favorite “holiday glass” buy:

The 12 Glasses of Christmas collection in good condition can be had for about $80-90. Each of the 12 days is represented by a colorful vintage-y design and the full set comes together really nicely. Hand-wash only, friends! From November to February, I feel a little more festive drinking my alcohol out of these glasses. The other eight months of the year they’re shoved in a cupboard with all my other “unnecessary drinking glass purchases” (hello, 1980s Burger King Empire Strikes Back collection!). But these aren’t for flipping or stashing in hopes they double in price. They’re just cool — and something to drink out of while trying to push away the thoughts of someone else’s lips having been all over them many years ago. 

Bonus; if you poke around enough, you can find individual glasses. So if you’re just really into ‘six swans a swimming’ these can still be had on a less all-in level. Nobody will question your festiveness if you don’t have all 12.  

Three things I’m passing on this week:

1. Donruss Holiday tins: a few years ago, Donruss released a true holiday football box, which had fake sweater relics and photoshopped hats on players. This year’s holiday tin is festive and cute, but the cards inside are just regular cards (in admittedly fun packaging). 

2. Sydney Thomas autographed cards: I am not afraid to buy the Leaf cards featuring influencers. I have several — some double in value, others kind of plateau at the initial price. But I’m not spending $80 on one. I’m sure people will chase them, but for me it comes down to this card… or another set of 12 Days of Christmas glasses. 

3. Hawk Tuah autographed cards: Yeah, I scrolled through the Leaf site to see what other fun stuff I could buy and noticed the Hawk Tuah cards are over 50% off right now. Still not getting one. Her crypto stuff notwithstanding… I kind of like her. She seems to want to do some good with her fame with all the pet stuff and she has more staying power than, say, Sydney Thomas. But I’ll keep checking and when it hits $19.99 I’ll open up the checkbook and add another odd piece of history to my collection. 

Four things I’m buying instead

1. A Muppet Family Christmas DVD: But you need to get the version that includes the cut scenes for the full holiday experience. You’re already buying an illegally distributed DVD – you might as well get the version that includes the songs they didn’t have the rights to use. 

2. Harry Potter Phantom Kakawow cards: Remember the Disney Kakawow craze? Harry Potter doesn’t have the same pull, but ol’ J.R. Fickle just has a feeling that these will quickly double in price as people become aware they exist. It’s a good quality card and Harry Potter fans are eager collectors. Plus there’s almost zero Harry Potter card presence out there. If I’m wrong? To quote Dr. Peter Venkman: “If I'm wrong, nothing happens! We go to jail; peacefully, quietly.” In other words, you still have a box of good quality Harry Potter cards to open and enjoy (or gift).

3. I don’t watch wrestling anymore and one of the last big events I tuned in for was the hugely disappointing “surprise” of the Gobbledy Gooker at the Survivor Series in 1990. So obviously I bought the action figure. I got mine at Target before it sold out; eBay may be one of the few routes left at this point.

4. Bonus buy: Burger King is selling a “BK Village Snack Tray.” I know it seems like we’re sponsored by Burger King here, after we directed you toward a $20 Advent Calendar that is selling on eBay for $150-300 now… but this is just a cool holiday tray. I may never use it. I don’t know. But it looks neat and worst case it’s a white elephant gift! Or family heirloom!

By the way, the rumor around Mantel HQ’s water cooler is that there will be a big product launch tomorrow, so keep your eyes peeled for that. In the meantime, enjoy the start to the holiday party season, and if you’re knocking back an adult beverage, I hope it’s out of festive old glasses previously owned by people with good hygiene!