1993 Upper Deck School Folder by Mead
(4-up Iooss Collection Cards)
1993 Upper Deck School Folder by Mead
(4-up Iooss Collection Cards)
Like so many of the items that I think of as the "toughest" non-card collectibles - I'm always surprised, even shocked with a discovery.
This Mead school folder certainly caught me off guard. Not that a school supply company might have a cooperative partnership with a card company. Topps has done this for many years - but Upper Deck - now that's unusual. The business practice at Otter Place is known for selectivity and I didn't think they did this type of stuff. Of course, this was produced around the time CEO Richard McWilliam was off in Europe trying to grow the business, and you know the saying about when the "cat's away". Things certainly changed when he got back in the mid-1990's and fired the entire management team he had left in charge during his absence. <g>
What also caught my attention was that, unlike the traditional route of most companies, basically reprinting their artwork onto the folder... I'm not sure if you can see it in the scan, but the cover is actually die-cut with four "windows". In each window, as you can see, is an amazing reprint of one of the Walter Iooss Collection cards. And you can't see it, but the portfolio actually has a thin piece of sheer plastic covering the entire thing. Essentially sealing/covering the die-cut openings - just like a piece of glass covers a picture in a frame. The reason for this: So that you can insert your own cards inside the die-cut openings. Very unusual (and expensive) treatment for something designed to be carried to school by kids who are likely to manhandle and basically destroy the folder by the end of the first semester.
The Beckett Almanac notes only one folder so far. But with the discovery of this second version (I purchased two examples from two different sellers) it's possible, even likely, that the other 1993 Upper Deck Subsets were used. Leaving at least seven different versions out there waiting for someone to note their existence. Since the Triple Crown Contenders is noted in the big guides, I believe there may be portfolios from: Clutch Performers, Fifth Anniversary, Future Heroes, Home Run Heroes, On Deck, Seasonal Highlights and Then & Now in existence.
If you have one in your collection let me know and I'll pass it on to both SCD/Mr. Bob Lemke and Beckett. I can only promise that Bob Lemke will acknowledge receipt of any new collectible. :-)
Note: The back of the folder is equally unusual in that the *back* of the Iooss Collection cards were printed, so when closed, the folder gives the appearance of having the cards "punch" though both sides. Really fancy stuff. :-)