Damn Dirty Trading Cards!

I rather enjoy these book collections of classic Topps trading cards from decades gone by. The latest one I picked up was this one dedicated to the Planet of the Apes. In a spritely essay by Gary Gerani we learn that Topps was a little late to the PotA party and these cards did not hit the shelves until a full year after the films release. Which was a virtue in a way since the editors didn't have to sweat spoiling the surprise ending of the first movie. 

This set of Topps cards from 1969 is a smaller assortment than normal and for a very odd reason. In these early days the notion of cross-promotion of a film was hardly unheard of, but not yet the marketing powerhouse it would become with films like Star Wars and after. So Topps had to negotiate with star Charlton Heston individually about using his likeness and he for some reason limited them to nine cards. Since he was the main character the editors at Topps decided to make this set only forty-four cards since they didn't want to make it seem he was a minor character. 

Oddly folks like Roddy McDowell didn't have the same option since their features were obscured by make-up. So this set landed and did some small business but not enough to see Topps try anything for the myriad sequels. They did scare up a set for the TV show but alas the CBS show was canceled just as the cards were hitting the shelves. 

The had much greater success when they got the rights to Tim Burton's revised Planet of the Apes and came forward with a wide range of cards. This book has them all included though I confess limited interest in the Burton images. It's a fine flick and all, but that first was a barn burner. 

I'm most happy to add the Planet of the Apes tome to take a place alongside earlier efforts featuring Star Trek and the legendary Mars Attacks. 

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