Cardboard Kings Book to Trace 150 Years of Trading Card History

A new book examining the history and culture of trading cards is scheduled for release during the 2026 holiday season.

Cardboard Kings: The History of Trading Cards is being written by Alladan Flinn, founder of Based Trading Cards, and Nick Jarman, founder and CEO of the Certified Trading Card Association. The authors describe the project as a comprehensive history of how trading cards developed into one of the world’s most enduring collectible formats.

The book will cover more than 150 years of the hobby, beginning with early trade cards and developments in printing. It will then move through sports cards, trading card games, pop culture collectibles, professional grading, modern hobby culture and the collector economy.

According to the announcement, Cardboard Kings is intended for collectors, industry professionals and readers interested in the development of the trading card business.

The book will explore the people, companies, printing advancements, collector movements and broader cultural trends that influenced cards across multiple generations.

“Trading cards have always reflected the culture around them,” Jarman said. He added that the book is intended to explain how the hobby evolved, why it continues to matter and how the stories behind cards have shaped generations of collectors.

Flinn described trading cards as pieces of culture, memory, art, tradition and community rather than simply products. He said the authors wanted to create a serious historical record of the cards collectors pursue and the hobby surrounding them.

An early chapter titled “A World Few People Ever Saw” is already available as a preview. The chapter examines the origins of trading cards, including the monochromatic 19th century, what the release calls the “imagination gap” and the psychological roots of scrapbooking.

Flinn founded Based Trading Cards, while Jarman leads the Certified Trading Card Association. Their book will bring together their experience in card production, collecting and industry standards.

Cardboard Kings: The History of Trading Cards is scheduled for release during the 2026 holiday season. Readers can register for updates and release information through the book’s official website.