First look: 2012 Topps Supreme Football

By Susan Lulgjuraj | Beckett Football Editor

Topps will close out the 2012 calendar year with one of its high-end football products.

Topps Supreme, which is scheduled to be released the last week in December, will have only low-numbered hits. Each pack contains two base cards, a red parallel and one low-numbered autograph, autograph relic or relic card in every pack.

Cards aren’t the only things collectors can get out of Topps Supreme. There will be randomly inserted cards collectors can redeem for up to 15 player-signed jerseys.

First, however, the base cards. There are 100 base cards in 2012 Topps Supreme that came in six parallels: Blue (numbered to 99), Violet (/75), Sepia (/40), Green (/15), Red (1/1) and Printing Plates (1/1).

The autograph relic cards checklist will have up to 40 subjects with a mixture of rookies, veterans and retired players. Of course, these cards will also come with parallels: Blue (numbered to 25), Violet Patch (/5) and Red Patch (1/1).

But single autographs are no fun. Topps has included autographed dual relic cards, quad relic cards and autographed jumbo patch relic cards. These will have Violet Patch (/5) and Red Patch (1/1) parallels.

One of the highlights of the autograph will be the Hall of Fame Cut Signatures. There will be up to 25 subjects and all cards are naturally 1 of 1.

This year’s products are taking advantage of the strong rookie class. There will be up to 35 different Autographed Rookies Cards with the likes of Andrew Luck, Robert Griffin III and Trent Richardson making appearances. These cards come with five parallels: Blue (/50), Violet (/25), Green (/15), Red (1/1) and Printing Plates (1/1).

Book cards will be a selling point in Supreme. There are different types of book cards including Autograph QB Playbook that will have a quarterback’s autograph alongside his favorite play, which will be hand-drawn and in silver ink.

There will also be Nickname Autograph Book Cards with a player’s nickname signed in silver ink on a black background. In addition, other books cards will feature autographed double jumbo relics and six-piece relic books with just one Red Patch parallel (1/1).

If one autograph on a card isn’t enough, there are several variations of multiple autograph cards.
・ Dual Autographs: Up to 45 rookies, veterans and retired players
・ Dual Autograph Relic Cards (numbered to 5)
・ Dual Autograph Patch Cards (1/1)
・ Triple Autographs (numbered to 10)
・ Quad Autograph Cards (numbered to 5)
・ Six Autograph Double-Sided Cards (numbered to 5)
・ Eight Autograph Book Cards (numbered to 5)
・ Supreme Rookie Dual Autograph Die-Cut Relic Book Cards (numbered to 5)

But this product isn’t only about the rookies. Veterans and retired players also get the autograph treatment such as Joe Montana. These autographs will include base autographs, Blue Parallel (/25), Green (/10), Red (1/1) and Printing Plates (1/1).

Relic cards will go mostly to the rookies. Rookies Quad Relic Cards will have to 40 subjects on the checklist, Rookie Quad Combo Relic Cards will have up to 45 subjects with Blue (/10), Violet Patch (/5) and Red Patch (1/1) parallels.

Supreme Rookie Die-Cut Relic Cards will offer jumbo-sized relic swatches in Violet Patch (/5) and Red Patch (1/1) parallels. There are also Jumbo Supreme Relic Cards featuring multi-colored patches (/5).

Other relic cards include:
・ Letter Patch Cards featuring rookies, veterans and retired players (1/1)
・ Primary Pieces Relic Cards (1/1)
・ Six-Piece Double-Sided Relic Cards with Red Patch parallel (1/1)
・ Eight-Piece Relic Book Cards with Red Patch parallel (1/1)
・ Veteran Quad Relic Cards with Red Patch parallel (1/1)

Topps is showing what a case of this will get collectors: four autograph relics, four autograph Rookie Cards, one multi-autograph card, one single autograph card, one additional autograph and five relic cards.

Susan Lulgjuraj is the editor of Beckett Football magazine. You can email Susan here with ideas, comments and questions. Follow her on Twitter here.