Topps has shaken up the trading card world with the launch of the 2023-24 Topps Mercury Victor Wembanyama collection, a lavish offering dedicated entirely to the NBA’s Rookie of the Year, Victor Wembanyama. Valued at $8,000 per box, this exquisite collection includes eight cards, comprising two autographs, game-worn jersey pieces, and a selection of rare chase cards. This marks the debut of the Topps Mercury line, heralding the start of a new era in premium trading card releases.
This collection capitalizes on Topps’ exclusive autograph agreement with Wembanyama, integrating jersey relics from his rookie season into the set. Each card is meticulously encased in a magnetic holder and wrapped in foil, further elevating the premium feel of the collection.
A standout card in the assortment is a dual autograph featuring both Wembanyama and the NBA icon LeBron James, both of whom have exclusive autograph contracts with Fanatics. The set also includes red parallels, limited to a mere five copies, as well as an unparalleled SuperFractor, heightening the desirability of this collection for avid collectors.
Topps has meticulously crafted ten unique autograph cards, some of which feature personal inscriptions from Wembanyama himself. The relic cards in the set are sourced from pivotal moments in Wembanyama’s rookie season, including his NBA debut and the game where he achieved his 1,000th point milestone.
The buzz surrounding game-worn relics was set in motion when Wembanyama’s inaugural NBA jersey commanded a staggering $762,000 at auction last year, foreshadowing the excitement surrounding the relics featured in this collection.
The set also boasts other dual autograph combinations, pairing Wembanyama with NBA legends like David Robinson, Tony Parker, Shaquille O’Neal, Jason Kidd, and even football star CJ Stroud, another exclusive athlete under Fanatics. With only ten copies of each dual autograph card being produced, their scarcity and value are ensured.
Complementing the autographs are 20 base cards showcasing significant moments from Wembanyama’s rookie season. In a nod to his French heritage, the base short prints are presented in French and limited to just 45 copies per card. Additionally, a distinct “Specimen” super short print variant, restricted to 15 copies, pays homage to his “Alien” moniker. All 20 base card parallels will bear serial numbers capped at 99.
Apart from autographs and base cards, the collection also features ten distinct insert designs. Noteworthy inserts include “Cote to Coast”, a tribute to the Cote d’Azur, 1971 Topps Chrome, and Wingspan, with some variants available with autographs.
While Topps has previously unveiled single-athlete sets like the Topps x J-Rod (Julio Rodriguez) set in 2023, the Wembanyama release marks the “most widely distributed single-athlete set” by Topps to date.
The boxes will be up for grabs on Topps.com and select hobby shops, with an exclusive preview via Fanatics Live one day before the official release on October 9th.
The Topps Mercury brand is set to forge ahead beyond Wembanyama, with plans to use it for forthcoming single-athlete products linked to athletes’ debut professional seasons. Collectors can anticipate similar deluxe releases for future budding sports stars.
