Enter the highly entertaining world of collectibles with our forthcoming Trading Cards Showcase Auction, a treasure trove that spans the gamut from superhero sagas and baseball legends to distinguished US presidents. This extraordinary collection comes from the archives of the late Greg Jein (1945-2022), who was a master craftsman in the visual effects realm with a storied career that includes multiple Academy and Emmy nominations for his skill in model-making and creating intricate landscape miniatures.
Following the global buzz of our Hollywood Platinum Signature Auction, which spotlighted Jein’s iconic movie props, this Trading Cards Showcase may seem more niche, but it is a fantastic sale in its own right, boasting a unique selection of rare and intriguing cards. As a collector with a penchant for the unconventional, I have handpicked six lots that stand out for their rarity and overall cool factor, reflecting my personal preference for non-sports cards. Join us in this auction to explore the legacy of a visionary and the chance to own a piece of collecting history.
1964 – 1978 The Beatles, The Monkees & Elvis Trading Sets – 1964 The Beatles Trading Cards, 1967 The Monkees Flip Books, and 1978 Elvis Trading Cards
When I was a kid during the 1970s, my friend Gerald and I would frequently ride our bikes to the nearby convenience store and each buy a bottle of grape soda, some candy, and a pack of KISS trading cards. From time to time, when I was tired of getting duplicates while trying to put together a full KISS set, I would buy a pack of Elvis cards. My mom was a big fan of The King of Rock and Roll, and so was I. In fact, one of the first records I bought with my own money was a 45 of “All Shook Up,” with “That’s When Your Heartaches Begin” on the B side. And you’d better believe I was all over the recent Elvis movie with Austin Butler. This fun lot includes 65 of the 66 cards from the ’78 Elvis set, plus near-complete sets featuring two other legendary acts that I love: The Beatles and The Monkees.
1966 Topps Superman – Unopened Encased Wax Pack – PSA 6.
The niche of collecting sealed wax packs is a fun subset of the trading card hobby, particularly with graded examples that act as both a preservation of history and an artful display. I’m particularly fascinated by this exceptional find: a 5-cent Superman wax pack adorned with George Reeves’ iconic portrayal as The Man of Steel. This unopened pack, with its cool illustration and the inviting tagline of “Watch Superman on T.V.,” dates back to 1966 and is a window into the cultural phenomenon of The Adventures of Superman series, which aired from 1952 to 1958. The presence of this pack, featuring stills from the show, underscores the enduring popularity of the series in syndication, which is how I watched the program. This piece is not just a collectible; it’s a snapshot of television and superhero history.
1966 Donruss Marvel Super Heroes – Complete Set of 66.
Some collectibles are meant just to sit on a shelf or be seen as investments. But that’s not the case with this set of Donruss cards featuring Captain America, Iron Man, Daredevil, Spider-Man, the Hulk, and Thor. For me, winning this lot would be a green light to actually play with these cards. They’re rare, sure, especially as a complete set, but that wouldn’t stop me from diving in. I’d read them, soak up the artwork (thanks to the legendary Steve Ditko and others), and have a blast putting together the puzzles on the back. The card fronts are like comic book panels, complete with goofy jokes and fun scenes—imagine Thor turning down scout cookies! So, while these cards are definitely collectible, they’re also a lot of fun to interact with!
1967 Topps Krazy Little Comics – Complete Set of 16.
Like the Marvel set above, these Krazy Little Comics cards have fun and humorous captions. However, these parody cards, in addition to being much more obscure, are funnier—and even irreverent. For example, there’s a “Stuporman” card where a Superman-like character says, “Ha! Bullets can’t hurt me!” The bullets bounce off the pseudo-Man of the Steel, but they ricochet into nearby innocents, blasting holes through them. The “Flush” gets pulled over for speeding while The Incredible “Hunk” tries to catch a butterfly. Perhaps best of all, Prince “Violet,” sporting his patented mop top hair, fronts a Beatles-esque band, belting out, “I wanna holdeth your hand.” There are only 16 cards in this set, but each is a rare work of comical art.
1982 Wrestling All-Stars Series B – #7 Kerry Von Erich – BGS 7.5.
One day during the mid-1980s, my friends and I were enjoying a day at Grapevine Lake near Dallas, swimming, grilling burgers, tossing the Frisby around, and in general having a blast. Suddenly, a striking figure on an approaching boat caught our attention. It was none other than Kerry Von Erich, the wrestling icon, recognizable by his muscular build and long, flowing hair. As he neared, he signaled for two women in bikinis to join him aboard, leaving us in awe. The encounter was unexpected and unforgettable, especially since I was a huge fan of Kerry and wrestling in general at the time. I said all that to say this: I would love to own this extremely cool Kerry Von Erich trading card, which is rare because it was only available via complete sets through mail order. You couldn’t pull these cards from wax packs, and fewer than 2,000 sets are believed to exist.
1986 Piedmont Terrorist Attack Educational Cards – Complete Set, Sealed Box.
In the early ’90s, my brother-in-law and I owned a comic book store that also sold trading cards, including a contentious set featuring notorious figures like Jeffrey Dahmer, Charles Manson, and Ted Bundy. Despite the local media scrutiny, we maintained correctly that these were educational, not for children. Now, an even more remarkable collection has emerged here at Heritage Auctions: the Terrorist Attack Educational Cards. This set, offered along with a sealed box of packs, delves into the lives of infamous terrorists and their heinous acts, presenting figures arguably more vile than those in the serial killer set. These cards offer a historical lens on the atrocities committed, capturing a dark, but all-too-real facet of global history.