COLLECTORS CLUB

In 2021 Topps gave GPK Collectors what they wanted - their very own COLLECTORS CLUB! You'll never guess what happened next...

Below you will find pics and info about this controversial - and largely forgotten - release:

BACKGROUND & RELEASE

The 582 Montgomery Club from Topps was an exclusive membership opportunity for collectors, providing them with exclusive collectibles, first dibs at releases, and more. In fact, it was members of the Montgomery Club that were granted the opportunity to purchase Sapphire 1 back in 2020...and to say that resulted in a chaotic situation is an understatement. GPK collectors were up in arms and wanted THEIR own club...with their own unique perks.

Even though the outrage from Sapphire 1 was loud, it still came as a shock when Topps sent an email teasing a 'GPK 2021 Collectors Club'. The email contained no details, but ultimately some information started to leak. Below is a screenshot of information that was found on the Topps UK website shortly after the email was sent:

Click the image above for a larger version

The Membership ultimately went on sale in January, 2021. Below is the breakdown of the entire release, followed by pictures and galleries of the Membership contents:

• RELEASE DATE: January 21, 2021
• ON SALE WINDOW: 7 days (01/21/21 - 01/28/21) - SOLD OUT IN 30 MINUTES
• INCLUDES: 1-year Membership included: Membership Club Card, Membership Letter, Membership Poster, 4-card Introductory set, (4) 20-card sets, and a 'Bonus Gift'
• PRICE: There was only one way to purchase this release. The membership could be purchased directly from the Topps website for $200.00, and there was a limit to '3 Memberships per household'
• INFORMATION: As mentioned above, the memberships sold out in less than an hour. (This would not be the last thing collectors complained about with this Club)
  - The 4-card Introductory set (shipped with the poster, letter, and membership card) included the following cards: 1 Nat Nerd (Club President), 2 Joe Blow (Vice President), 3 Cranky Frankie (Treasurer), and 4 Brainy Janie (Administrative Assistant). This was the first indication of how much this set would revolve around the "Club" idea
  - The (4) card sets exclusive to the Club would be shipped throughout the year: March, June, September, December. Each set had a specific theme - check the Gallery below for pictures of all cards included in the Club
  - Perhaps what was most-interesting (and problematic) with the Club is that it ended up NEVER providing collectors with early-access to limited-edition releases (ie Sapphire 2). Most who bought-in were doing so in hopes of getting a shot at some limited goodies, but in the end just received a pre-produced set of Club-themed merchandise
  - Throughout the year there were additional inclusions that were not mentioned during on sale. Pictures and info of those items can be found below
  
• PRINT RUN: Topps never released the number of Memberships that were made available

MEMBERSHIP KIT

The initial shipment from the Club (aka 'Membership Kit') shipped with three items: Membership Card, Poster/Letter, 4-card set of charter members (Gallery section below)

The Membership Card was basically just a two-sided business card (cheap-feeling, not plastic), and included the logo on the front, and a spot for your name on the back:

The 'Poster' was in-fact an 8.5" x 11" piece of glossy paper featuring a print of the four 'Charter Members' of the Club. This artwork was done by Joe Simko, and would be used on various items throughout the year. The back featured a 'hand-written' letter to collectors explaining a bit more about what to expect with the Club

CARD GALLERIES

As mentioned above, the Membership Kit included four cards featuring the 'Charter Members' of the Club. The cards featured the original artwork from the OS releases with new pink/yellow backgrounds. There was also a new banner featuring "COLLECTOR'S CLUB" that would be consistent throughout all of the sets:

Each of the four themed sets were shipped in a cardboard outer box featuring Simko's artwork on the front, and the typical black (blank) box with Topps logo on the back. Inside each box was a clear card case (sealed with a sticker) that contained the 20-card set and Header cards.

Above are pictures of the box, and below are four galleries dedicated to the four themed sets

SET 1: TRASH CAN-DIDATES

Set 1 contains a total of 20 election-themed cards (1a-10b) and one Header card

SET 2: THE BRAINY BUNCH

Set 2 contains a total of 20 learning-themed(?!) cards (1a-10b) and one Header card

SET 3: GPsKATERs

Set 3 contains a total of 20 skateboard-themed cards (1a-10b) and one Header card

SET 4: I'M ALWAYS CRANKY

Set 2 contains a total of 20 crank-themed(?!) cards (1a-10b) and one Header card

EXCLUSIVE ITEMS

Throughout the year collectors received other items as part of their shipments. Most (if not all) were met with a groan from collectors as they were still holding out hope for something worthwhile like Sapphire cards, as opposed to keychains and flower pots. Below are pictures and information of the remaining items from the GPK Collectors Club

SET 1 shipped with a collectors pin featuring the Club Logo (Nat Nerd). The pin was affixed to a cardboard backing and came inside a clear plastic bag.

SET 2 shipped with two plastic flower pots. Yes, you read that correctly...flower pots. THIS pretty much marks the moment where the entire Club went off the rails, and collectors lost interest. The flower pots came inside a cardboard sleeve, and included a 'pod' of marigold seeds. Yikes.

SET 3 shipped with a collectors keychain featuring Joe Blow. The actual item was delayed (and ultimately lost) in Customs, so instead members were shipped this keychain. Similar to the pin it came on a cardboard backing inside a clear plastic bag.

SET 4 shipped with a 3-ring binder. Topps obviously felt they were keeping the 'best for last', but considering the binder was leaked in the initial teases at the beginning of the year, it was no surprise. The binder featured Simko's artwork and included a few 9-card pages inside:

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