DID YOU KNOW #1 - Topps Hocus Focus needs water?

This was always my favorite part - did You know??

As the first fun fact in this long (hopefully) series we will present a bit of information about some very interesting cards introduced by Topps long time ago - Hocus Focus Magic Photo.

From the very beginning guys from marketing of all companies, that decided to have their own trading cards were working on more and more collectible, interesting, fun, and attractive cards. In the end... it’s all business. They wanted to sell the product and card was a great marketing "device" - but You always have to be one step ahead. Tobacco cards in cigs was not enough anymore. And one day Topps found a very interesting solution.

Have You ever met a blank card? Well... if so, this was not a misprint, it was Hocus Focus!! Back in 1948-49 Topps had an idea to make a package for bubble gums out of trading cards. Wouldn’t be that much surprise if not the fact, that the cards were blank. You had to put a bit of water on the surface and then use the "blue magic paper" by pressing it against moistened card to see the mysterious player or actor You got. 

The series was made of 252 photo cards of baseball, football, boxing, basketball, movie stars, famous people and places. Topps also offered the beautiful storage album, where You could find the full checklist.

The idea was brilliant, but Topps returned to this Hocus Focus cards just two more times in 1955 and 1957... pity.

There is not much left of those Hokus Focus gums and cards. Will anyone dare to open and taste one? 😉 In any case, those sets of “magic” cards is a beautiful piece of Topps history showing, that indeed they are one of the best card producers… I guess… in my private opinion 😊

Sources:

https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/78152/15-highly-collectible-facts-about-topps

https://sports.ha.com/itm/baseball-cards/singles-1940-1949-/1948-topps-hocus-focus-magic-photo-albums-pair-2-/a/410014-44001.s

https://www.number5typecollection.com/2008/07/1948-topps-magic-photos-5-lou-boudreau.html