1965–66 Topps : Superman Cards


1965–66 Topps : Superman Cards

Superman Cards were first distributed by Topps Chewing Gum in 1965. The 66-card series features scenes and promotional photos from the Adventures of Superman television series starring George Reeves. Superman Cards were sold in 6-card wax packs for 5 cents each. The first printing included a stick of bubble gum in each pack. Each box contains 24 packs.

The live-action show began as a reworking of The Adventures of Superman radio program. Producers Robert Maxwell and Whitney Ellsworth drafted the screenplay for Superman and the Mole Men, a full-length feature film released on November 23, 1951. The movie served as a pilot for network syndication. The first 26 episodes were filmed before acquiring Kellogg's as a sponsor. Adventures of Superman originally aired for six seasons from September 19, 1952, to April 28, 1958.

1966 Topps Superman #5

The card series features both Phyllis Coates and Noel Neill as Daily Planet reporter Lois Lane. Phyllis Coates first appeared as Lois alongside George Reeves in Superman and the Mole Men. After season one, Coates was replaced by Noel Neill, the first live-action Lois Lane. Neill previously starred in the 1948 serial Superman and the 1950 sequel Atom Man vs. Superman. Reeves and Neill also appear in the 1954 educational film Stamp Day for Superman, produced by the U.S. Treasury Department.

1966 Topps Superman #33 - Superman Leaps In

The cards depict scenes from all six seasons. The final three seasons were filmed in color, but originally broadcast in black-and-white. A rare series of test cards issued in 1965 contains black-and-white card backs. The limited test series is comprised of 44 cards with no copyright year or puzzle pieces.

Orange card backs are numbered to #66. The last 22 cards form two different puzzle images. The first printing of orange back cards do not list a copyright year. The early wrappers included bubble gum and one of four different advertisements.

The more common orange back cards are copyrighted 1965. The series was distributed as late as 1970. The cards and wrappers read "Watch Superman on T.V." The T.V. packs do not contain any bubble gum.

1966 Topps Superman #5 (T.V. Back)


Since 1987, the Smithsonian Institution has archived items from the Superman Cards series. Story cards, advertisements, and wrappers are held in the collections of The National Museum of American History.

An undisclosed number of Superman Cards were stamped in gold foil and reissued by Topps as buyback inserts. The stamped cards are included in the 2002 American Pie: Spirit of America Edition and the 2013 Topps 75th Anniversary series. Reprints of "Metropolis' Hero" were included the Topps 75th Anniversary set.

2013 Topps 75th Anniversary - #45 - Superman 1966 - Metropolis' Hero [Rainbow Foil]

The 2018 Topps 80th Anniversary series includes a limited edition card and 10 x 14 inch poster that reprint the Superman Cards wrapper art. The card and poster were sold exclusively through the Topps website. The print run was limited to only 343 cards.

2018 Topps 80th Anniversary - #16 - 1966 Superman Wrapper Art


Superman Cards Checklist
1 Krypton is Doomed
2 Destination: Earth
3 Superman’s Parents
4 Ace Reporter
5 Superman
6 A Job for Superman
7 The Man of Steel
8 Superman’s Strength
9 Metropolis’ Hero
10 The Threat
11 Plotting Lois’ Death
12 Lois in Trouble
13 Lois is Kidnapped
14 Jimmy and Clark
15 He’s Been Shot
16 Clark Gets a Lead
17 No False Moves, Kent
18 You’re Finished Kent
19 Superman in Action
20 Futile Fight
21 Superman’s Warning
22 The Backfire
23 Crushing Blow
24 Seeing with X-Ray Eyes
25 Saved by Superman
26 Safe at Last
27 Superman’s Peril
28 Jimmy, Superman & Perry
29 Great Caesar’s Ghost
30 Bullets Bounce Off Him
31 In the Nick of Time
32 Superman & the Savages
33 Superman Leaps In
34 Superman to the Rescue
35 Superman’s Problem
36 The Challenge
37 The Pirates’ Decision
38 It’s Superman!
39 Helping Hand
40 Superman & the Cavemen
41 Facing the Death Ray
42 Superman’s “Wedding”
43 Happy Ending
44 Reporter Clark Kent
45 Super Safecracker
46 Interviewing the Chief
47 Superman’s Pet
48 At the Police Station
49 Capturing the Crooks
50 The Alien Arrives
51 Superman Gets His Man
52 Jor-El on Krypton
53 Jimmy Behind Bars
54 Help Me, Superman
55 Lois Threatened!
56 Superman’s Search
57 Pa Kent Finds Superboy
58 Held as a Hostage
59 Rocket from Krypton
60 Flight over Metropolis
61 The Kryptonite Ray
62 Superman as a Baby
63 Ruler of Krypton
64 Superman’s Father
65 Visitor from Space
66 Harmless Blow