Trading Card

collecting · games · hobbies

What they are. Trading cards are small rectangular cards, usually the size of your palm, that feature an image of a person, place, animal, or character on one side with information printed on the back. People collect them because they're fun to own, trade with friends, and sometimes use them to play competitive games.

Bundled as bonuses. Trading cards got popular because companies included them in packages of other products like candy, gum, cereal, and sports equipment to make people want to buy more. This was a clever marketing trick that turned into a huge hobby.

Trading and collecting. The word 'trading' card comes from what kids love to do with them: swap cards with each other to complete their collections. Some people still collect cards from decades ago, and rare cards can be worth hundreds or even thousands of dollars.

Games you can play. Many trading cards aren't just for collecting but also have rules printed on them so you can play strategy games against your friends. Popular card games let you build decks and battle opponents using your cards.

Huge collectible hobby. Trading cards range from sports players and superheroes to dinosaurs and fantasy creatures, so there's something for almost any interest you have.