2012 Topps: "Rookie Patches" Insert Set
2002 Upper Deck Sweet Spot: "Rookie Gallery Jerseys" Insert Set
1997 Proline: "Emerald Autographs" Insert Set
2012 Topps: "Rookie Patches" Insert Set
Jay's Football Cards
Collector's Edge: Other Titles
My Collector's Edge: Other Titles Collection (Updated December 28th, 2021)
I give Collector's Edge a hard time about releasing nothing but junk, but in reality they did release some solid titles, or should I say, solid high-end, cutting edge insert sets.
Now it's true that Collector's Edge did release a lot of junk and a majority of that junk was the base sets, but one time it was just the opposite. And that opposite case happened in the 1995 Collector's Edge Instant Replay set. The Instant Replay set wasn't bad, it was a pathetic small set though, probably a test set. The '95 set was a measly 51-cards, but it wasn't all that bad, (See the 1995 Collector's Edge Instant Replay "Trent Dilfer" #38 left). Again, as I stated before, small sets, (sets the size of 51 cards), only give you 2 cards per team....almost. There were 2 insert sets included with this release and those sets are where the issues with Collector's Edge are.
1995 Collector's Edge Instant Replay: “Trent Dilfer” #38
Included with the 1995 Instant Replay set was the Edge Tech Die-Cut set, a 13-card set that was one of the most worthless sets of all time. I hated it so much it made my 10-most least favorite sets list, (See the 1995 Collector's Edge Instant Replay: "Steve Young" Edge Tech Die-Cut #12 right). Just an absolute awful design.
The '96 release of the President's Reserve set was another really nice set from Collector's Edge. This plastic stock set was one of the better plastic sets and at 400 cards this set was heavy too, (See the 1996 Collector's Edge President's Reserve: "Chris Zorich" #33 left). The President's Reserve set had a nice simple front design and the border may have been a little big, but it wasn't overpowering. The '96 release had 8 insert sets included with it, all of which, had names that went with the set; Running Mates, Air Force One, etc.
1995 Collector's Edge Instant Replay: “Steve Young” Edge Tech Die Cut #12
1996 Collector's Edge President's Reserve: “Chris Zorich” #33
1997 Collector's Edge Extreme: “Terrell Davis” Fury #5
1999 Collector's Edge Fury: “Andy Katzenmoyer” RC #176
1999 Collector's Edge Fury: “Karsten Bailey” Personnel Collection Autograph #NNO*
*Note: I do not own the card pictured above.
1999 Collector's Edge Triumph: “Champ Bailey” SSD #CBA
2000 Collector's Edge T3: “Shaun Alexander” Jerseybacks (Front) #SA
In 1997, Collector's Edge released the "Extreme" set. I didn't like the "Extreme" release because the card photography was a little dark, the front design wasn't bad, it just wasn't good, (See the 1997 Collector's Edge Extreme: "Bryce Paup" UCE #122B right). But one thing this release from Collector's Edge did have; insert sets. The '97 release had 5 insert sets and all of them were not too shabby. One of my favorites was the "Fury" insert set; another solid set with a player close-up, (See the 1997 Collector's Edge Extreme: "Terrell Davis" #5 left). However, my favorite insert set of the 5 was the "Game Gear Quads" set. This set was not just an industry first, it was a cutting edge set that sparked several followers; the 2000 Donruss Preferred: Preferred Materials and the 2001 Leaf Rookies & Star: Player's Collection to name a few. The "Game Gear Quads" set was an instant classic that's still very sought after, (See the 1997 Collector's Edge Extreme: "Eddie George" Game Gear Quads #12D right).
The '99 Collector's Edge release called "Fury" was cool. At this point, Collector's Edge was spread way too thin, in my opinion. They had at least 7 different titles in 1999 alone. Way too many. But with that being said, the '99 Fury release wasn't a mistake. This set was a solid set, (See the 1999 Collector's Edge Fury: "Andy Katzenmoyer" RC #176 left). The front photography was crisp and original and who doesn't love the Rookie card photography
Unfortunately, not all was good for the 99 Fury release. Case in point, the 1999 Fury "Game Ball" insert set. What an absolute waste of cardboard. I don't think you can cut a smaller piece of football or else Collector's Edge would've done it. This set was nothing more than Pacific's Prism set with a tiny ity-bity football swatch....Ugh, (See the 1999 Collector's Edge Fury: "Joey Galloway" Game Balls #JG below right). The only bright spot, it didn't end up on the "My Least Favorite Sets" list. Although if I that list was the bottom 11 sets, then this set would've made it.
Fortunately, not all was bad, either. One of the best insert sets from the Collector's Edge vault came in the 1999 Fury release. It was a rookie autograph set, but what was truly unique about this set was that each card was a true 1 of 1, (See the 1999 Collector's Edge Fury: "Karsten Bailey" Personal Collection Autograph #NNO below left). While there is no way to know for sure how many autographs from each player there were, each card was slightly different than the rest by the slightest of margins. Very unique! Very cool! And very rare!
Another one of the 7 different 1999 sets released was the "Triumph" set. The 1999 Collector's Edge Triumph set was a 180-card set with 7 insert sets. The Triumph set was another one of those Collector's Edge sets that wasn't bad, it was just there, (See the 1999 Collector's Edge Triumph: "Daunte Culpepper" RC #151 below right). The front design was solid, not spectacular, but solid. And that's not bad at all for Collector's Edge because more of their sets, (when compared to other brands), were just plain horrible. The Triumph release was above average. Most of the insert sets included with this release; however, were average at best.
The one set that stood above the rest was the SSD autograph set. It was an autograph set that was identical to the main set with a small, (too small, in my opinion), box for the player's signature, (See the 1999 Collector's Edge Triumph: "Champ Bailey" SSD Autograph #CBA above left). The SSD set was an adequate 40-card set loaded with rookies. The SSD stood for "Signed, Sealed & Delivered" which was a name also used by Playoff the very same year. Funny how card manufacturers do that.
The one set that stood above the rest was the SSD autograph set. It was an autograph set that was identical to the main set with a small, (too small, in my opinion), box for the player's signature, (See the 1999 Collector's Edge Triumph: "Champ Bailey" SSD Autograph #CBA below left). The SSD set was an adequate 40-card set loaded with rookies. The SSD stood for "Signed, Sealed & Delivered" which was a name also used by Playoff the very same year. Funny how card manufacturers do that.
2000 Collector's Edge T3: “Shaun Alexander” Jerseybacks (Back) #SA
2000 Collector's Edge Fury: “Thomas Jones” Personnel Collection Autograph #NNO*
*Note: I do not own the card pictured above.
Collector's Edge released 5 titles for the 2000 season, one of those being the "T3" title. Now I don't own the "T3" set so I haven't seen many of the cards, but I have no idea what the "T3" stands for, (See the 2000 Collector's Edge T3: "Shaun Ellis" RC #201 right). The "T3" cards didn't look too bad. I actually thought they looked pretty cool, the only thing that I wondered was why Collector's Edge actually released it in the first place? Did CE really need another set that was just like the others? I mean, the "T3" wasn't identical to the 2000 Masters set, but it wasn't drastically different either. The real treasure wasn't in the set, (even though it still books really high), it was in the insert sets; three insert sets, really.
The first of the three gems was a set called "Jerseybacks". The "Jerseybacks" set was only a 10-card set that featured an action photo of the player on the front, (See the 2000 Collector's Edge T3: "Shaun Alexander" Jerseybacks #SA left), and nothing, but a player's jersey swatch on the back, (See the 2000 Collector's Edge T3: "Shaun Alexander" Jerseybacks (Back) #SA below left). What a totally awesome, cutting-edge card set! And each card was "1 of 20", meaning there were only 20 cards of each player. Talk about scarce. These cards are extremely difficult to find!! As they should be.
The second of the three gems was a set called "Leatherbacks". The "Leatherbacks" set was a 20-card set that featured an action photo of the player on the front, (See the 2000 Collector's Edge T3: "Randy Moss" Leatherbacks #RM above right), and nothing, but a game-used football swatch on the back, (See the 2000 Collector's Edge T3: "Randy Moss" Leatherbacks (Back) #RM above right). Another totally awesome, innovative card set! And each card was "1 of 12", meaning there were only 12 cards
of each player. Talk about rare!! This is an extremely difficult set to put together for us set collectors. As of this writing, I don't have a single card from this set. The Collector's Edge Odyssey title also had a Leatherbacks set. This set was also #'d to 12.
The third of the three gems was a set called "Personnel Collection Autographs". The "Personnel Collection Autographs" set is, ( as of this writing ), an unknown # of cards in 3 different formats; one set has the players in retro uniforms, (See the 2000 Collector's Edge T3: "Thomas Jones" Personnel Collection Autographs #NNO above left), the 2nd set shows the player lifting weights and the 3rd set shows the player in their NFL uniforms. (See the 2000 Collector's Edge T3: "Thomas Jones" Personnel Collection Autographs #NNO right). A truly unique set even though it debuted in '99.
In closing, the titles listed above by "Collector's Edge" aren't all bad and some of them are very good, but overall the "Collector's Edge" brand was one of the bottom-rung brands in all of the hobby. I just could not recommend Collector's Edge to anybody.....unless they were going to collect just the insert sets listed above. And for the love of God, not the Edge Tech Die-Cut set.
1997 Collector's Edge Extreme: “Bryce Paup” UCE #122B
1997 Collector's Edge Extreme: “Eddie George” Game Gear Quads #12D
1999 Collector's Edge Fury: “Joey Galloway” Gameball #JG
1999 Collector's Edge Triumph: “Daunte Culpepper” RC #151
2000 Collector's Edge T3: “Shaun Ellis” RC #201*
*Note: I do not own the card pictured above.
2000 Collector's Edge T3: “Randy Moss” Leatherbacks (Front)#RM*
*Note: I do not own the card pictured above.
2000 Collector's Edge T3: “Randy Moss” Leatherbacks (Back)#RM*
*Note: I do not own the card pictured above.
2000 Collector's Edge Fury: “Thomas Jones” Personnel Collection Autograph #NNO*
*Note: I do not own the card pictured above.
I have complete sets:
Collector's Edge Other Titles:
1) 1995 Collector's Edge Instant Replay Set
A) Edge Tech Die Cuts Insert
2) 1996 Collector's Edge: President's Reserve Set
A) Honor Guard Insert
B) New Regime Insert
C) Tanned Rested Ready Insert
D) Time Warp Insert - Incomplete ( 14 / 15 )
3) 1997 Collector's Edge: Extreme Set
A) Finesse Insert
B) Force Insert
C) Forerunners Insert
D) Fury Insert
E) Game Gear Quads Insert - Incomplete ( 48 / 49 )
4) 1998 Collector's Edge: Spectrum Set
5) 1999 Collector's Edge: Fury Set
A) Extreme Team Insert
B) Fast and Furious Insert
C) Forerunners Insert
D) Game Ball Insert
E) Heir Force Insert
F) Xplosive Insert
G) Personnel Collection Autograph Insert - Incomplete ( 5 / X*)
6) 1999 Collector's Edge: Triumph Set
A) Commissioner's Choice Insert
B) Fantasy Team Insert
C) Future Fantasy Team Insert
D) Heir Supply Insert
E) Pack Warriors Insert
F) Sign, Sealed, Delivered Insert - Incomplete ( 35 / 40 )
7) 2000 Collector's Edge: T3 Set
A) Adrenaline Insert
B) Future Legends Insert
C) JerseyBacks Insert - Incomplete ( 5 / 10 )
D) Overture Insert
E) Rookie Ink Insert - Incomplete ( 11 / 12 )
F) Personnel Collection Autograph Insert - Incomplete ( 19 / XX* )
*Note: This set has 3 different variations of cards; The first shows the player in his NFL team jersey, the second shows the player in throw-back gear and the third shows the player working out.
