Last chance to make use of the MEGA-HUGE, IMPORTANT news of the week

• July is customer appreciation month on Beckett.com (Hint: Only three more days left in July!)

First looks and sneak peeks of the week

• Panini gives us a gander at 2011-12 Score Hockey (now with 100 percent more Santa Claus!)
• Box Busters Preview Gallery: 2011 Rookies & Stars (with post-lockout commentary)
• Upper Deck’s All-Time Greats includes — well, all-time greats of course
• Move over, Miles Davis, Topps Trumpets 2011 Triple Threads Football
• Box Busters Preview Gallery: 2011 In The Game Heroes & Prospects Baseball Hits (Series 2)
• First look: 2010-11 Elite Black Box Basketball

Click here to view the embedded video.

Box Busters

• 2011 Allen & Ginter Baseball
• 2011 In The Game Heroes & Prospects Baseball Hits (Series 2)
• 2011 Rookies & Stars Football
• 2011 ‘The Avengers: Kree-Skrull Wars‘
• 2010-11 Ultimate Collection Hockey (with a contest)
• 2011 Press Pass Showcase Racing

Q&A of the week

• Upper Deck’s Bubby Johanson talks about “The Avengers: Kree-Skrull War” set

This week in National Sports Collectors Convention news

• Um, FYI, The National is next week
• Panini presents puck-lover prizes for the NSCC
• Topps plans collector Q&A at The National
• Memory Lane showcases million-dollar Mantle collection at the show

Auction action

• 2010 Topps Sterling Honus Wagner cut auto relic 1/1 (Current bid: $2,399.99)
• 2000 Lakers Master Collection Magic Johnson jersey /300(Buy it now for $149)
• 2008 UD  Black Bryant/James patch auto 1/5 (Current bid: $425)
• 2001 Donruss Bat Kings Hank Aaron autograph 1/50 (Current bid: $221.50)

Other videos

• Rippin’ Retail: Olds’ (Oldspiced?) 2011 Topps Diamond Giveaway haul
• Collector Box Busters: 2011 Bowman Platinum
• Box Busters Warmup: 2011 Bowman Platinum

This week in Nickelodeon invasions, card dealer birthdays and more

• Nicktoons invades MLB in upcoming video game
• USA Today examines the loss of a collector and his collection
• Dave and Adam’s Card World throws its own birthday party – Gordie Howe got invited
• Dem Bums take center stage during a Memory Lane auction
• Topps acquires digital currency card publisher What the heck is that?
• Bryce Harper headlines this week’s eTopps MILB cards

Just for fun

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By Andrew Tolentino | Hockey Editor

Throwing its own birthday bash, major trading card dealer Dave and Adams Card World will celebrate 20 years of being in business  and a store opening with its first Hockey Fest.

Just in time to include its fourth store in Niagra Falls, N.Y., Dave and Adam’s late-summer fling is filled with promotions player signings and other perks.  From Aug. 11 – Aug. 14, all four of the company’s Buffalo area stores will collectively host the hockey hullabaloo.

“Buffalo and the Southern Ontario Region is home to passionate hockey fans and we wanted to celebrate our 20^th anniversary along with the opening of our new store by bringing in some of the biggest names in hockey”, said D&A Card World CEO Adam Martin.

Some such names from the roster include legends Gordie Howe, Tony Esposito, Gilbert Perreault and legend in the making Steven Stamkos. All of whom will be signing various items on respective dates and at different locations:

• Howe – Aug. 11 @ Tonawanda
• Esposito – Aug. 12 @ Williamsville
• Stamkos – Aug. 13 @ Orchard Park
• Perreault – Aug. 14 @ Niagra Falls

Either staying parked at one store or making the four-day pilgrimage, collectors can take advantage of on-site services from the Upper Deck Authenticated crew and stock up on sale-marked merchandise. D&A announced that there will be “massive sales” on hockey cards, apparel as well as giveaway goodies from Upper Deck, Fathead and yours truly (no, not me specifically) Beckett Media.

If you’re able to make it out to this post-National-anniversary-grand-opening extravaganza, please feel free to post images in the Beckett.com forums and/or email them to hockeymag@beckett.com for print consideration in Beckett Hockey.