By Andrew Tolentino | Beckett Football Editor

Topps‘ recently trumpeted 2012 Bowman Signatures brand left many football collectors asking one simple, reasonable question. Where the heck is basic Bowman?

Today, the manufacturer clarified, noting that the beloved brand will land around  the same time — in retail form.

This year’s Bowman is scheduled to hit shelves on May 21 with eight to 24 packs per box, depending on what the retailer carries. Blaster boxes will contain eight packs, each offering five veteran base cards and three base Rookie Cards, while 24-pack boxes have the same pack formula and might make for better odds on pulling the most coveted cards in the product.

Autographs in 2012 Bowman mirror some of the sets in 2012 Bowman Signatures (Chrome Refractor Rookie autographs, Inside the Numbers, Dual and Triple autographs), but there are two retail exclusives to chase here. All-American Autographs feature hard-signed signatures from up to 20 top rookies, and Accolades will showcase on-card autographs from 10 elite newcomers.

The same retail-exclusive approach goes for Relics, inserts, and parallels throughout the set. Like Signatures, 2012 Bowman will also feature Autographed Relics, Inside the Numbers, and Combine Competition cards, but the basic brand will also include Inside the Numbers Relics and Accolades inserts. Rookie Cards in 2012 Bowman come are paralleled in silver (numbered to 99), green (numbered to 25), and retail-exclusive gold and purple parallels (numbering remains unknown at the moment).

Stay tuned to Beckett.com for more details, preview images, and who knows — maybe even a Venn diagram to further illustrate the differences and similarities between 2012 Bowman and Bowman Signatures.

By Andrew Tolentino | Football Editor

Not long after the retro-filled, quarterback commemorative, Andrew Luck-infused goodness coming in basic Topps football,  2012 Finest should hit hobby  shops with distinct, higher-end appeal.

The fourth brand in Topps’ early-season release schedule lands on Aug. 20  — leaving plenty of time  to swap these airbrushed mockup images for fully-licensed NFL photography. According to the manufacturer, 2012 Topps Finest will include even more on-card autographs which should make for a lineup of big hits in Rookie Refractor autograph variations, Finest Atomic rookie autograph Refractors, and, let’s be honest, anything with Andrew Luck’s signature on it.  More details after the jump.

Among the Luck-y charms, the Topps press release highlights the allure of pulling one of his exclusive “Lucky Cuts” autograph die-cut cards.

• Lucky Cuts autographs parallel the plain, but desirable Lucky Cut insert with on-card autographs and will be numbered to 10.
• Lucky Cuts Patch Relics feature multi-color swatches and are numbered to 25.

Obviously, autographs from the projected top pick aren’t a guarantee, but the product does offer a more-than-mediocre “Master Box” manifest. Here’s the rundown on what to expect from each 12-pack (six packs in each two-per-box mini box) break:

• One numbered Rookie Autograph Patch
• One numbered autographed Jumbo Relic
• Two Atomic Die-Cut Refractor Rookie Cards
• Two Finest Moments inserts

Autograph patch cards showcase up to 40 rookies with multi-color patches and signatures on refractive chrome printing. The plethora of parallels include:

• Blue Refractors (numbered to 99)
• Gold Refractors (numbered to 75)
• Red Refractors (numbered to 50
• Pulsar Refractor (new, numbered to 25)
• Prism Refractors (new, numbered to 10)
• Black Refractor Pigskin NFL Shields (new, featuring Rookie Premiere footballs, 1/1)
• Superfractors (1/1)

One-per-box autograph Jumbo Relics feature up to 55 rookies and veterans alongside penmanship and large jersey swatches. Parallels include:

• Blue Refractors (numbered to 99)
• Gold Refractors (numbered to 75)
• Red Refractors (numbered to 25)
• Prism Refractors (numbered to 10)
• Black Refractor Logos (1/1)
• Superfractor patches (1/1)

2012 Finest will also feature numbered, hard-signed versions of the base Rookie Cards, each with increasingly exclusive parallels.

• Red Refractors (numbered to 15)
• Pulsar Refractors (numbered to 10)
• Superfractors (1/1)

Finest Moments inserts fall one per mini box and highlight key moments in 25 veteran and rookie careers. These also come in Refractor parallels and in rarer autographed variations:

• Pulsar Refractors (numbered to 10)
• Superfractors (1/1)

The 150-card base set in 2012 Finest will be comprised of 50 rookies and 100 veterans with the following per-pack parallel odds and numbered allure:

• Refractors (1:3)
• Prism Refractors (1:6)
• Blue Refractors (numbered to 99)
• Gold Refractors (numbered to 50)
• Red Refractors (numbered to 25)
• Pulsar Refractors (numbered to 10)
• Superfractors (1/1)
• Printing plates (1/1)

Stay tuned to Beckett.com after the Rookie Premiere to see what these cards look like after official NFL photography and more details become available.

By Andrew Tolentino | Football Editor

Whether he realizes it or not, Andrew Luck’s Stanford-themed inscription is telling of what many collectors will be shouting when they pull  his exclusive, early season autographs in 2012 Press Pass starting next week. (As in, “I just pulled an Andrew Luck auto, go card!” or “I’m about to sell this Andrew Luck auto, go card!”

The product, as previously noted, will be the first brand to offer Luck-inked cards before the NFL-licensed sets hit the market. Also including inscriptions and red ink from Robert Griffin III, Trent Richardson, Michael Floyd and many more freshman stars,  here’s a look at how the March 21 release looks to extend the luck of St. Patrick’s Day.

All-American autographs, like the one above, and Power Picks will exclusively feature top prospects and can be found in three different numbered variations. Other on-card and limited components include:

• Press Pass Signings: Featuring 70 newcomers with six different variations
  • Gold X’s and O’x numbered to 199 or less
  • Bronze hashmarks numbered to 99 or less
  • Blue football numbered to 50 or less
  • Red player image numbered to 15 or less (Target retail)
  • Green player image numbered to 15 or less (Wal-Mart retail)
• Reflector parallels: Mirroring the 50-card base set
  • Holofoil numbered to 299
  • Proof Edition numbered to 100
  • Solo (1/1, hobby only)

Also, here’s a good look at the autograph checklist before the photo-clicking frenzy: