1979 and Earlier

Travel back to the roots of card collecting, when sports legends, movie stars, television favorites, and larger-than-life heroes arrived inside wax packs—often alongside a stick of bubble gum. From the rise of rock ’n’ roll and space exploration to flower power, disco, and blockbuster science fiction, these decades helped turn trading cards into lasting pieces of popular culture. Explore vintage cards from 1979 and earlier that preserve the athletes, entertainment, artwork, and stories that shaped generations of collectors.