For years now, autographed books coming direct from the publishers -- or direct from the authors themselves -- have been an affordable way to collect ink from notable names in all realms of pop culture.

It's not a perfect system with stamps, fakes and autopens sometimes in the mix -- a problem for publishers to catch as they are not authenticators -- but thanks to dedicated collectors on the Blowout Cards Forum and elsewhere, those problems often get caught and fixed ... or at least become well-known enough to avoid if it's an issue that goes uncorrected.

Getting ink in-person is always best -- book tours still happen, of course -- but landing autographed editions from publishers, online sellers or celebs themselves via their websites or other appearances are common. So, with that said, here's the first of what just might become a monthly department here on The Buzz for this new year

Our first subject and autograph to start this series? Basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

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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: 2019 Topps Garbage Pail Kids We Hate the '90s (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (when available)

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 192
Base set completion: 
153 of 220 (70 percent)
Duplicates: 0

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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: 2018 Leaf Metal Pop Century 1/1 Pre-Production Proof Box
Where to buy: Click here

Cards per box: 3
Base set completion: 
N/A
Duplicates: 0

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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: 2019 Topps Garbage Pail Kids We Hate the '90s (hobby box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 24
Cards per pack: 8
Cards in this box: 192
Base set completion: 
153 of 220 (70 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Continue reading →

In some areas of the sports world, pin collecting is a big deal and has been that way for decades.

Olympic pins, press pins and other areas of collecting in this wearable genre -- one that's arguably bigger away from sports -- can all carry some flair within their pieces, but none of them are like one artist's line of pins showing pop culture icons and carrying nods to sports personalities.

Its name? Patti Lapel. 

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