Topps is digging back into the archives for…Topps Archives. On Thursday, the company announced via Twitter that it was bringing back a brand from the last decade, along with an insert set that will also bring back memories. Archives, which popped up a decade ago and lasted two years, gave way to Topps All-Time Fan Favorites, which made its original debut in 2003. The reincarnation of Fan Favorites will again include certified autographs and card designs the company used in years past. A few images of the 2012 product were released via the social network, including a 1989-style Topps Ken Griffey Jr., a new Topps signee.
“Yes, Fan Favorites is coming back as autograph insert in new Topps Archives in 2012,” confirmed a company employee on Twitter. “Awesome product, I think will be a really fun break.”
We haven’t learned much yet in the way of details on 2012 Topps Archives, including price, elements or release date but autographed Fan Favorites cards revealed by the company also include Willie Mays, Don Mattingly and Dave Kingman.
Fan Favorites has held up pretty well over the years. Boxes generally sell for $80-90 online. Two autographed cards are found per box, along with a relic card.
The average price of an autographed card is sitting at $21.47 over the last three months, but many of the Hall of Famers bring $50 and up. A triple auto Stan Musial/Duke Snider/Frank Robinson from 2005 recently sold for $530 while a 2005 Tom Seaver/Rod Carew dual auto, numbered to 50, brought $160.
Autographed cards from the Fan Favorites product are selling at a solid 65% rate.