Coming to Terms

TERMS COMMON TO THE TRADING CARD HOBBY

• 9-Up Sheets – uncut sheets of nine cards, usually promos.
• Autograph Cards – printed insert cards that also bear an original cast or artist signature. Cards
• Base Sets – a complete set of base cards for a particular card series.
• Box Topper Cards – cards that are included in a factory sealed box.
• Boxes – original manufacturer's container of multiple packs, often 24 packs per box.
• Blister Packs – factory plastic bubble pack of cards or packs, for retail peg-hanger sales.
• Cards – usually the standard baseball size of 2.5 in. by 3.5 in., but 'widevision' cards are of the tall historically-basketball size.
• Cases – factory-sealed crate filled with card boxes, often six to twelve card boxes per case. Often 24 packs per box.
• Chase Cards – card or cards included as a bonus in a factory sealed case.
• Cigarette Cards  – collectible cards given away with cigarettes.
• Common Cards – also known as base cards. Non-rare cards that form the main set.
• Confectionery Cards – trade cards produced by confectioners, similar to cigarette cards, tea cards, etc.    
• Factory Sets – card sets, typically complete base sets, sorted and sold from the factory.
• Hand Collated - complete card sets assembled by sorting through packs of cards by hand. 
• Hobby Cards – items sold mainly to collectors, through stores that deal exclusively in collectible cards. Usually contains some items not included in the retail offerings.
• Insert Cards – also known as chase cards. Non-rare to rare cards that are randomly inserted into packs at various ratios like 1 per 24 packs for example. An Insert Card is often different from the main set as well as being numbered differently.
• Insert Sets – a complete set of a particular class of inserts, often called a 'subset'.
• Master Sets – not well defined; often a base set and all readily available insert sets; typically does not include promos, mail-in cards, sketch, or autograph cards.
• Oversized Cards – any base, common, insert, or other cards not of standard or widevision size.
• Parallel Cards – usually a modification of the main set of base cards which contains extra foil stamping, hologram stamping and are often seen one per pack up to one per 36 packs.
• Packs – the original wrapper with base and insert cards within, often called 'wax packs', typically with two to eight cards per pack. Today the packs are usually plastic or foil wrap.
• Retail Cards – cards, packs, boxes, and cases sold to the public, typically via large retail stores.
• Rack Packs – factory packs of unwrapped cards, for retail peg-hanger sales.
• Promo or Prototype Cards – cards that are distributed, typically in advance, by the manufacturer to enhance sales.
• Redemption Cards – special cards that come in packs that are mailed  to the manufacturer for a special card or some other gift.
• Sell Sheets – also 'ad slicks'. Usually one page, but increasingly fold-outs, distributed by the manufacturers to card distributors, in advance, to enhance case sales.
• Sketch Cards – insert cards that feature near-one-of-a-kind artists sketches.
• Swatch – insert cards that feature a mounted swatch of cloth, such as from a sports player's jersey or an actor's costume.
• Tins – factory metal can, typically filled with cards or packs, often with inserts.
• Unreleased Cards – cards printed by the manufacturer, but not officially distributed for a variety of reasons. Often leaked to the public, sometimes improperly. Not to be confused with promo cards.
• Uncut Sheets – sheets of uncut base, insert, promo, or other cards.
• Widevison - Oversize format cards, measuring 4 7/8 by 2 3/4 inches.  First developed by Topps for their 1995 Star Wars set.
  
• Wrappers – the original pack cover, often with collectible variations.