1956 Topps Elvis Presley Card # 45 Preparing to Go on Stage (EX)

1950s Entertainment Trading Cards

Part of a big surge in Topps entertainment releases, the 1950s Entertainment Trading Cards offer a strong mix of non-sport choices.

1956 Topps Elvis Presley Trading Cards

The first in a long line of trading card sets dedicated to the King, 1956 Topps Elvis Presley is also one of the most popular. The 66-card set focuses on his music and the start of his acting career.

Product Details

1956 Topps Elvis Presley is the first of many trading card sets dedicated to the King of Rock and Roll. Not just focused on music, it also highlights the beginning of his acting career.

Printed under the banner Bubbles Inc., the 66-card 1956 Topps Elvis Presley checklist has two distinct sections. The first 46 cards center on his music career, with card fronts featuring a full-color photo with a thin, blank border, and a white-lettered caption set inside a red guitar graphic at the corner.

These cards are sometimes referred to as "Ask Elvis" cards because of the card backs. The top of the card has a blue banner that has the card number in white, plus an illustration of an operator and a "fan question". The text below is meant to sound like Presley answering the fan's question.

The final 20 cards in 1956 Topps Elvis Presley set center on his feature film debut, Love Me Tender. Card fronts have a color picture from the film, with a clapboard rather than a red guitar.

Card backs recap the film's plot. The blue banner at the top includes a film strip graphic with the card number and a bold caption. The bottom of the card has another banner that lists the subset as a "series of 20 scenes," further separating the two sections of the set.

1956 Topps Elvis Presley remains one of the most popular entertainment trading card sets of the post-Era. Singles, no matter the condition, continue to trade strongly on the secondary market.

Measuring 2 1/2" X 3 1/2"", the set is also notable for being one of the first (if not the first) Topps sets to have the traditional dimensions used in most sets today.

How We Grade:

Gem Mint (GMT): (10.0) A flawless card. To be in Gem Mint condition, a card’s borders must have a ratio of 50/50 side to side and top to bottom. 

Mint (MT): (9.0-9.5) A perfect card. Well-centered with parallel borders which appear equal to the naked eye. Four sharp, square corners. No creases, edge dents, surface scratches, paper flaws, loss of luster, yellowing or fading, regardless of age. No imperfectly printed cards – out of register, badly cut or ink flawed – or card stained by contact with gum, wax or other substances can be considered truly Mint, even if new out of the pack. Generally, to be considered in Mint condition, a card’s borders must exist in a ratio of 60/40 side to side and top to bottom. 

Near Mint/Mint (NM/MT): (8.0-8.5) A super high-end card that appears Mint 9 at first glance, but upon closer inspection, may exhibit a very slight wax stain on reverse, slight fraying at one or two corners, or a minor printing imperfection. Centering must be app. 65/35 to 70/30 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse. 

Near Mint (NM): (7.0-7.5) A nearly perfect card at first glance, but upon closer inspection, may have slight surface wear, slight fraying on some corners, slightly out-of-register picture focus, a minor printing blemish or slight wax stain on reverse. Centering must be 70/30 to 75/25 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.

Excellent/Near Mint (EX/NM): (6.0-6.5) Card may have visible surface wear or a printing defect. A very light scratch. Corners may have slightly graduated fraying. Picture focus may be slightly out-of-register. Card may have minor wax stain on reverse, may have very slight nothing on edges. Centering must be 80/20 or better on the front and 90/10 or better on the reverse.

Excellent (EX): (5.0-5.5) Corners are still fairly sharp with only moderate wear. Card borders may be off center as much as 85/15. No creases. May have very minor gum, wax or product stains, front or back. Surfaces may show slight loss of luster from rubbing across other cards. Dark bordered cards may have one or two small nicks.

Very Good/Excellent (VG/EX): (4.0-4.5) Shows obvious handling, but still looks nice. Corners may be rounded or have minor creases. No major creases, tape marks or extraneous markings or writing. Surfaces does exhibit loss of luster, but the printing is intact. May have paper wrinkles. May show major gum, wax or other packaging stains. All four borders visible, though the ratio may be as poor as 95/5. Exhibits honest wear. 

Very Good (VG): (3.0-3.5) A well-worn card, but exhibits no intentional damage or abuse. May be “Mis-cut or Off-Center” with no border visible. May have major or multiple creases, however, creases are not so deep as to show the underlying paper. This card is completely readable, has not been written on, and has no tape marks or holes. Corner rounding may extend well beyond the border. 

Good (GD) (2.0-2.5) Shows excessive wear, along with damage or abuse. Will show all the wear characteristics of a Very Good card, along with such damage as thumb tack holes in or near margins, evidence of having been taped or pasted, perhaps small tears around the edges or creases so heavily as to break the cardboard. Backs may show minor added pen or pencil writing or be missing small bits of paper. Still basically a complete card. 

Poor (P): (1.0-1.5) A card that has been tortured to death. Corners or other areas may be torn off. Card may have been trimmed, show holes from a paper punch or have been used for BB gun practice. Front may have extraneous pen or pencil writing, or other defacement. Major portions of front or back design may be missing. Not a pretty sight. 

We believe that all our listings are 100% Original and Authentic unless otherwise noted. They are all covered by a 30 Day Money Back Guarantee, if for whatever reason you are not happy with your purchase we will exchange it, replace it, discount it or you can return it for a full refund.

Standard/Combined 1st Class Shipping via USPS is $3.95 for the first card and $0.15 for each additional card, with a max. of (40) items per invoice. Subject to change as postal rates continue to increase. Estimated delivery is 3-5 days. Subject to change as postal delivery schedules continue to increase. Please see shipping tab for current postage rates. All cards will ship in penny sleeves, top loaders, team bag & bubble wrap envelopes.

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