From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2021 Historic Autographs Famous Americans -- Employee Set (parallel edition + bonuses)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (when available ... click for all other H.A. releases)
First Buzz preview: Click here (checklist is in gallery below)

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in this one.

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2021 Historic Autographs Famous Americans -- Employee Set (parallel edition + bonuses)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (when available ... click for all other H.A. releases)
First Buzz preview: Click here (checklist is in gallery below)

Keep reading for a full breakdown and gallery of what was in this one.

Continue reading →

What: 2025 Pieces of the Past Inventors Edition trading cards
Arrives: April 8
Box basics: Four memorabilia cards per four-pack box (10 boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Pieces of the Past focuses on people who invented notable things -- one being basketball creator Dr. James Naismith as seen here -- in a release that meshes memorabilia cards with flashy and colorful modern cardboard, too.

Keep reading for more info and a selection of images.

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What: 2024 Pieces of the Past 1800s Kaleidoscope Edition
Arrives: Nov. 20
Box basics: Four hits per four-pack box (10 boxes per case)
Checklist: TBD
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: This brand revisits the 1800s for a second time -- this one with plenty of foilboard flash -- via a collection packed with history and in some boxes redemptions for complete historical documents will be found.

Keep reading for more info and a selection of images.

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What: 2024 Keepsake In My Hand Edition trading cards
Arrives: Sept. 18
Box basics: One relic card per box (five boxes per case)
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: Keepsake goes high-end with nothing but handwriting samples from worldwide notables from the past in a release that puts the focus on just a single card in every box.

Keep reading for more info and a selection of images.

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What: 2024 Pieces of the Past 1800s Edition
Arrives: May 9
Box basics: Four hits per four-pack box (10 boxes per case)
Checklist: TBD
Order: Click here

What's buzz-worthy: This brand is back with a stacked lineup of cut autos and other memorabilia cards for a variety of historical figures found in every box.

Keep reading for more info and a selection of images.

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Like many collectors, Buzz is a fan of grading and knows that there are many reasons that collectors choose to slab cards. Sometimes it's to enhance the appeal and protect them when selling. Other times it's to protect an investment for the long-term or to protect for sentimental reasons. Or, it might be just for fun or curiosity about a potential grade.

Click for a closer look.

Here's this month's grading diary here on The Buzz ...

TO SEE WHAT CONDITION MY CONDITION IS IN ...
The Album: The Big Lebowski soundtrack (Mercury, 2014 -- first pressing)
The Reason Graded: As you can probably tell, I'm a dabbler with grading in a few -- but not yet all -- directions, but the notion of having a pristine item encased for permanent protection to be appreciated as an artifact of sorts appeals in a lot of ways. Video games, Funko Pop! figures, other toys, VHS, tickets, press photos and more can be graded just like cards, comic books, magazines and coins. I've tried grading VHS and there's a chance I might do more there with a different company that I use for pretty much everything else, but vinyl is one that, well, I jettisoned most of what I had long ago. That means this was more of a first project than just a first try. (I didn't have much vinyl as my early music-buying years were where the Sony Walkman and then CDs were a thing or emerging, not records.) I spotted this soundtrack cheaper than it might have been elsewhere and it's an original, so I grabbed it with an eye for a slab with Texas-based Tuned In Grading as this one is memorable as more than just a soundtrack but a film that's a cult classic with tons of interest and action beyond a couple hours of screen time. And the total package is cool front and back with scenes and even key characters noted.
The Grade: Tuned In Grading 9.0 (sealed)

Reality Check: I did this one to basically to go through the process and see if I liked the results and then to decide how I would approach doing more. It seems based on their grading scale and description that a 10 isn't easy -- that's fine in my book and that took away some of the grade-shock here. (A nine is fine in all realms, really, but we all want perfection and in some genres a nine has a few slots above it on the scale. Not here.) There isn't really a pop report just yet (but I know of at least one copy*) and it appears that the typical overall grade is a meshing of five applicable sub-grades -- record, cover, inner sleeve, labels, shrink -- but since this is a sealed record only two of those are in play. They both clicked at nines for me -- the cover here had a small bend on the back, while the shrinkwrap has a couple minor spots on the right side but I didn't notice one of them previously. I wasn't totally surprised as I knew the small bend would hurt me but everything else seemed strong. Part of me wants to try something vintage that's not sealed next time, but that's easier said than done in terms of balancing condition, an item I like and price -- I know of a few I'd try but I'm a stickler for condition and this kind of grading isn't quite as cheap as others but still less than some so I'd want something with an appealing grade. Plus, if it's not sealed then other things get looked at ... that you can't examine unless you're buying stuff in-person. Part of me also thinks albums without shrink-wrap could look better in the sleeve but I haven't really read up on what the musical devotees prefer. I think, generally, I dig it but I think for storage and size I like the idea of slabs for CD, DVDs and stuff that's more game-sized more ... but the size here also makes all the details you see on the back of this one as well as that main art on the front pop a bit more, too.

Keep reading for more of this month's pick-ups and new slabs for Buzz.

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