Futera Unique 2015 Collection

Futera Unique 2015 Collection
BEHIND THE SCENES
Futera UNIQUE 2015 World Football Collection leads the way in a trio of Futera high-end
football/soccer card releases with the Official ARSENAL and MANCHESTER CITY Futera
UNIQUE 2015 Collections releasing early July, limited to only 15 cases of each worldwide.
The Futera UNIQUE 2015 World Football Collection - an Investment Grade release of
only 200 cases - presents the most impressive Checklist of ‘1 of 1’ Autograph cards and
Memorabilia Sets featuring top football stars ever released in a football card collection,
taking ‘Futera UNIQUE’ beyond where it’s been before.
CHECKLIST: ‘1 of 1’ AUTOGRAPH CARDS
CHECKLIST: MEMORABILIA CARD SETS
CHECKLIST: Futera UNIQUE 2015 World Football Card Collection
From this year Futera Unique 2015 checklist is bought to you in an interactive format.
For example you will be able to locate your favourite footballer and see what Sets the
cards appear in and use other search functions for your favourite cards.
http://futera.com/checklists/Unique2015Checklist.xlsx
As the Collection is quite complex, below is an overview with some of the Sets’ original
concept drawings and card photographs from various stages.
Search for your favourite players
GAME MEMORABILIA
Now
Versus
Memostars
The Collection showcases 10 different Memorabilia
Sets presenting a stunning range of game-used
memorabilia with single, double and triple
memorabilia cards featuring combinations such as
Pele’s game-used jersey with a piece of
match-played ball from his final professional game;
Zlatan Ibrahimovic’s game-used jersey and shorts
from the same game; 3 different Lionel Messi
game-used jerseys on one card… Other items
you’ll see are players’ Goalkeeper’s gloves and
Training wear.
Information about the card’s memorabilia such as the date/season/which game the memorabilia was used
in is given on the back of the card. This year we’ve moved from laser to ink-coding of individual numbering
and unique codes, and have additionally increased the thickness/density of the board for all Memorabilia
Card Sets. Even Regular cards are produced on a high-grade board of around 1mm thickness.
A Futera First:
We’ve introduced another ‘first' for Futera collections with a new type of Memorabilia Card called
‘MatchDay’ where a piece of the player’s game-used jersey plus a piece of the actual MatchDay Programme
from the same game both feature on the same card.
Matchday:
‘MatchDay’ (25 card set /only 25 sets created) features the player’s game-used jersey plus a piece of the
Matchday Programme from the same game.
Futera Unique 2015 Collection
Examples of other Memorabilia sets:
Kitcard:
‘Kitcard’ (16 card set /only 13 sets created)
providing combinations of 2 or 3 game memorabilia
items on the same card with a real diamond.
Memorabilia in the set includes shirts, boots, balls,
training wear and Goalkeeper’s gloves. Cards
featured in the set include Sergio Aguero, Lionel
Messi, Cristiano Ronaldo, Pele & Diego Maradona.
The Incredibles:
(10 player cards/ less than 15 of any released)
COMBO cards featuring an on-card Autograph together with a piece of game memorabilia on
the same card. Cards featured in the set include Lionel Messi, Neymar and Radamel Falcao.
Mythicals:
(13 card set /only 10 sets created)
2 pieces of game memorabilia featured on a retro design
card commemorating football greats from a bygone era with
each card presented in a gold-plated frame with diamonds.
Cards featured in the set include Diego Maradona, Pele,
Roberto Baggio, Johan Cruyff and Michel Platini.
‘1 of 1’ COMBO Memorabilia with Autograph cards
(only 1 of each player card exists worldwide).
‘1 of 1’ COMBO Cards featuring an Autograph together with a piece of game memorabilia on
the same card. ‘1 of 1’ COMBO Cards are presented in a gold-plated frame with diamonds.
Other sets include ‘Memostars’ (Double & Triple game memorabilia cards including Boots, Ball, Training wear, Goalkeeper’s gloves),
‘Versus’ (2 players’ game memorabilia on the same card) ‘Superstars’, ‘Then’, ‘Now’, ‘Captains’…
Check the Collection Info Sheet for details: http://www.futera.com/pdf/FuteraUnique2015InfoSheet.pdf
Futera Unique 2015 Collection
Memorabilia card in every pack!
tograph + Memo Card
Pele ‘1 of 1’ COMBO Au
A Memorabilia card is included in every Pack except where a Pack
contains a rare Insert of either an ‘Incredibles’ COMBO Autograph
with Memorabilia card, a ‘1 of 1’ Autographed card in gold-plated
frame with diamonds, a ‘1 of 1’ COMBO Autograph with Memorabilia
card in gold-plated frame with diamonds, or a ‘1 of 1’ Printing Plate
Production Set.
In fact, most Packs have an additional Insert. This could be a Silver,
Gold or Platinum or ‘1 of 1’ Parallel card, or even an Autograph Card
(i.e. you could find both Inserts in the same Pack).
WHAT IS A ‘1 of 1’?
A ‘1 of 1’ card or set means that only 1 of its design has been created
and exists worldwide.
Futera actually created the ‘1 of 1’ concept for the Trading Card
hobby, with the ‘1 of 1’ card feature later being adopted by other
publishers for their collections. ‘1 of 1’ Autograph cards included in
Futera Unique 2015 include Alex Ferguson, Cristiano Ronaldo, Lionel
Messi & Pele.
Alex Ferguson ‘1 of 1’ Autograph Card
AUTOGRAPHS & RARITY
Futera UNIQUE on-card signed autograph cards feature in every Display Box.
Packs containing an Autograph card ALSO include a Memorabilia card in the same
Pack, although packs containing a rare COMBO Autograph with Memorabilia card
would only have one insert. On the back of each autographed card, details include
security features of individual numbering and a unique code together with
information about where and when the player signed the card.
‘The Incredibles’ is a COMBO set where a player’s on-card autograph together
with a piece of game-used memorabilia appears on the same card.
The Collection also introduces commemorative ‘1 of 1’ Archive cut autograph
cards from football legends such as George Best, Ferenc Puskas and Di Stefano
which are presented in a gold-plated frame with diamonds.
George Best Futera ‘1 of 1’ Archive Autograph Card
ilia
O Autograph + Memorab
‘THE INCREDIBLES’ COMB
RARITY: Why only 200 cases? Actually, it would be easier for us to make
much more (within hours of releasing the Collection details trade
reservations had well exceeded the release quantity, and with the previous
Futera UNIQUE 2013 and 2014 collections having both sold out…).
But making more cards would not provide collectors with the rarity
associated with the Futera UNIQUE brand, so we haven’t.
In fairness to everyone, again this year markets have been allocated so
that collectors everywhere can have the opportunity to collect and trade
cards from the new Collection.
Every Memorabilia card is photographed and its data uploaded to ‘Code for Collectors’ and also to the ‘Memorabilia Card Grading
Service’ where collectors can check the rarity and features of their cards. (the Memorabilia Card Grading Service activates from the latter part
of June following upload of data & photographs, with Code for Collectors following shortly thereafter).
These free services will show collectors any cards that were short-printed, for example the Blokhin ‘Memorable’ card was significantly
short-printed because of a production issue on one of the sheets. So although numbering on the backs of Blokhin's ‘Memorable’ cards will
show ‘of 105', in fact if you check the ‘Colour Grading Chart’ and ‘Code for Collectors’ online data, you will see that much fewer than the
originally planned cards for Blokhin - and some other player cards in the Collection - were actually released and will therefore be even
more rare.
Futera Unique 2015 Collection
WHAT IS A PRODUCTION SET and why is it so special?
A Futera Printing Plate Production Set is the equivalent of one Insert but
comprises a metal printing plate card, plus one or more elements taken from
production, plus a Certificate Card.
Whilst a Production Set generally includes a metal printing plate of the card
front, some may feature a plate of the card back, or even both front and back
plates. The Set may include a 'Printer's Proof’ - or more than one type of Proof
- produced for Publisher-checking before the card goes to press. Some items
are only produced for some card sets such as 'Blank Back' cards (no print on
the card's reverse). The number of inserts in a Production Set will vary. Futera
has only released 1 Printing Plate (Black) from some of the Futera UNIQUE
2015 card sets and as the Production Sets themselves are ‘1 of 1’, they are
unique with only 1 existing worldwide for the associated card’s design.The
Printing Plate cards have a unique code, and the Production Sets include a
Certificate card. A true collector’s item.
BASE SET & PACKAGING
Example of
‘1 of 1’ Printing Plate Production Set
The Base Set has been produced with a velvet
effect giving an interesting finish and feel to
the cards. Futera uses a high-grade,
prestigious board (1mm+) for its Regular
Cards considered to be one of the best
in the industry.
TIP: YOUR CARD STORAGE BOX:
You can use the Futera Display Box to
store your cards - remove the inner
shelf and you’ll find your cards can
stack neatly inside.
PARALLEL SETS
I find it difficult to get excited about Parallel Sets because it doesn’t
take a lot of effort or investment for a Publisher to do a ‘run on’ of a
Base Set, make a minor change such as foil colour (as was a common
treatment in the old days) and call the Set by a different name.
However, I know that collectors generally like to see Parallel cards in a
Collection and I do believe that there is a good place for them,
therefore for this Collection we’ve created 3 limited run Parallel Sets,
titled SILVER (limited to only 30 sets), GOLD (limited to only 20 sets)
and PLATINUM (limited to only 14 sets). The SILVER and GOLD sets
are gold-foiled, with the PLATINUM Set being titanium-colour foiled.
‘1 of 1’ PARALLEL SET
- a unique set within Futera UNIQUE 2015
We’ve created a ‘1 of 1’ Parallel Set with a bit of a twist
through a selection of just 80 cards from the Base set each
having a different image from its corresponding original Base
Set card. This is the sort of Parallel Set I do like - it retains
the relationship with the Base Set, yet is different and rare.
1 of 1 Parallel
1 of 1 Parallel
Base card
Base card
Futera Unique 2015 Collection
FREE SERVICES FOR COLLECTORS created by FUTERA
Card codes to utilize the following services will activate shortly following
release once post-production details, card data and photography have
been uploaded, as well as to give time for the shipping of the new release
to the different markets in fairness to all. Activation of card codes is
scheduled during the second half of June and we will announce the
activation date on Facebook and mail to customers. (If you’re not already
on our mailing list and would like to be, please email us at
info@futera.com and we’ll keep you updated with new releases and
other info/offers).
HOW RARE IS YOUR MEMORABILIA/JERSEY CARD?
MEMORABILIA GRADING SERVICE - http://futera.com/colour-grading
The ‘Memorabilia Card Grading Service’ was created several years ago by Futera
as a ‘world first’ for the Trading Card Hobby to help collectors understand the
rarity of their cards. Cards are graded according to their content and colour
combinations and how many cards with such colours/combinations were actually
released, with their rarity translated into easy to read charts. Search for your
memorabilia card’s number to find out how rare it is.
Example of a multi-colour Futera Memorabilia card:-
CODE FOR COLLECTORS
Enter the code from the back of your card to
get details about your card’s features and rarity.
‘CODE FOR COLLECTORS’ SERVICE
‘Code for Collectors’ is another ‘world first’ created by Futera for the Trading Card
Hobby. Futera individually numbers and applies a unique code to all of its insert cards.
Apart from this being a useful security code for collectors, the code can also be used to
trade your card at eFutera.com, and to add it to your Team in the FWFOnline football
card game (see below).
Collectors can enter the unique code from cards in the Base Set, Parallel Sets, Game
Jersey/Memorabilia Sets and Production Sets at www.futera.com to get details about their
card’s rarity and features including behind the scenes photos/videos from the crafting and
printing processes of the original card. Free service. Video: https://vimeo.com/95493707
eFUTERA - live online Card Trading Market
Collectors can buy, sell and trade Futera UNIQUE 2015 cards together
with cards from other Futera collections at www.eFutera.com. Free service.
FWF ONLINE - Futera World Football Online Game
Cards from Futera UNIQUE 2015 can be played in live online games at
www.FWFOnline.com - simply add the card’s code to your Team (register
free and get a free Starter Squad of 27 virtual football cards). NB: Because
Futera UNIQUE cards are rare, they provide strong playing power in the
game, so are sought after by gameplayers and collectors alike.
Futera Unique 2015 Collection
FUTERA OUTTAKES - what happens?
This year we printed two Memorabilia Card Sets which were never
released.
The first run of ‘Superstars’ was pulled because the colours didn’t
translate well from the concept to actual print, and the second run
proved too challenging for the finishers to achieve the outcome we’d
required. Despite the concept not coming to fruition for the 2015
release, it’s still in the sidelines for a possible launch with UNIQUE
2016.
With ‘Kitcard’, the first print run omitted the support artwork for
where the diamond was to be inserted therefore the Set had to be
reprinted.
The rejected ‘Superstars’ and ‘Kitcard’ Sets were earmarked for the
secure waste department… or has a new drawer of outtakes been
added to the Futera Archive?
Version 1 ‘Superstars’ - Unreleased
DIAMONDS & GOLD CERTIFICATION
One of my favourite times in production is buying the
diamonds, precious stones and unusual materials used in the
crafting of Futera collections. Our diamond purchases come
with independent Certification (collectors can obtain
Certificate confirmation directly from www.igeclab.com) and
the gold content of Futera’s gold-plated frames is certified by
Helmut Fischer, Analysts of Gold and materials content
measurement (Fischerscope X-Ray).
WHAT WILL YOU FIND IN YOUR PACK?
Most Card Collections are collated automatically by machine by way
of Feeders or Hoppers dropping out cards at a particular setting
according to the collection’s insert ratio specification. However,
Futera Collections are firstly masterminded across various
spreadsheets with insert ratios and collation created according not
only to the different card types and providing the likelihood of
finding a particular type in a Pack, but with bespoke pack, display box,
minicase and case combinations, even taking into consideration
variety of a Pack mix’s card colours, players and countries to create
an interesting and informative content across the production.
FUTERA - what does it mean?
The Brand name was created from combining the words ‘Future’ + ‘Era’ = Futera. This name fits our
corporate psyche as much today as it has done for over 25 years, with our objective to be innovative
and pioneering in the Hobby to bring interesting and informative Trading Card Collections and
services to collectors into the future.
Futera Unique 2015 Collection
Futera
Unique
Football Cards 2015
Thank you for your interest in Futera cards,
Best wishes
Gwyneth
Gwyneth M Glascodine
CEO, Futera
VIDEOS & USEFUL LINKS
‘BEHIND THE SCENES’
from the making of Futera UNIQUE 2015 Collections
https://vimeo.com/119916045
***
Podcast Interview with Footballcardz.net
http://footballcardz.podbean.com/e/003-gwyneth-glascodine/
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Video excerpt from Trading Card Conference, China
http://vimeo.com/116229865
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ORDER NOW: Visit the Online Shop - http://www.futera.com/latest-product
or email us at info@futera.com and we will be pleased to help.