2011 Rittenhouse The Complete Brady Bunch Trading Cards
Product Review
2011 Rittenhouse The Complete Brady Bunch Trading Cards Product Review
Reviewed by Ryan Cracknell
Good: Autographs from five of the six Brady kids, quick synopsis for every episode, captures the entire series.
Bad: Cards are too busy, nobody outside of the Brady clan is pictured, double-sided format tough to follow.
The Bottom Line: 2011 Rittenhouse The Complete Brady Bunch is one of those sets where it’s great to have but I wish there was a way to make it bigger. Taking on all 117 episodes in a single set is a daunting task. The end result is a base set that’s comprehensive, probably to a fault. While it’s great to get a quick recap of the entire series in one go, it’s tough to do in a way that makes sense in the trading card format through just 59 cards. Even though three of the five autograph signers have signatures in other sets, it’s great to see them together on a licensed, uniform design. Sure, it would have been even better to have Carol (Florence Henderson) and Marcia (Maureen McCormick), it wasn’t meant to be. For fans of the show, it might be pricey, but this is likely going to be the most comprehensive set that will ever be made.
Card Design: 3.5/5.0
The look of the cards have some major pros and some pretty big cons. On the plus side, it pulls off condensing five seasons and 117 episodes into a 59-card set that has both images and plot write-ups. But with two episodes and eight total images on each card, it’s way too much information squished into such a small set. And while the images capture many of the best moments from the show, they’re all limited to the nine characters from the opening sequence (save for two cards toward the end of the checklist that have Cousin Oliver). No Joe Namath, no Don Drysdale, no Davy Jones. Not even Sam the Butcher.
A big part of The Brady Bunch’s appeal was the wild visuals This makes a set with lots of pictures a necessity. Topps’ set from the show’s original run captured this very nicely. Every card here has eight pictures, four for each episode. Combine it with the short synopsis at the bottom and the cards are extremely cluttered.
While the seasons are color-coded, it would have been nice to have a season and episode number noted somewhere on the card as well. The physical quality of the cards is very strong, offering a solid card stock and glossy coating on both sides.
Checklist: 3.5/5.0
I’m impressed Rittenhouse squeezed the entire series into one set. As I’ve already said, spreading it out would have been even better but it’s unlikely the hobby could have supported multiple sets for the show. That’s why I’m not overly bothered by the missing key ingredients in the autograph checklist either. It’s no secret that Maureen McCormick doesn’t look back on her experiences on the show with the fondest of memories. Therefore it’s not surprising that she didn’t sign any autographs. Florence Henderson is a little more puzzling, but I’m sure Rittenhouse did all they could to get her to sign. When it comes to entertainment cards, some celebrities are reluctant to sign autographs, even more so than in sports. Having extremely fond memories of the show, I’m happy to have signatures from a big chunk of the main cast on a uniform design.
Value: 3.0/5.0
Moving anywhere from $100 to $140 per box set, 2011 Rittenhouse The Complete Brady Bunch isn’t cheap. Limited to 500 box sets and boasting five autographs, there’s some solid potential. However, with three of the five autographs available elsewhere, including Barry Williams and Susan Olsen on licensed Brady Bunch cards (Inkworks’ TV’s Coolest Classics), the price still feels a little high.
The Fun Factor: 4.0/5.0
For several years, watching Brady Bunch reruns was a daily ritual. Being able to sit down and reflect on the entire series in a single go makes for some awesome nostalgia. Toss in a handful of key autographs and you’ve got the recipe for a set I was extremely excited for. And while the end result isn’t the definitive set fans might want, it’s still as groovy as pork chops and apple sauce or having your science experiment volcano blow up all over your sister and her friends.
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Product Details
The Brady Bunch remains one of the most iconic and quotable shows ever to air on television. Rittenhouse Archives is bringing the entire series to cardboard with The Complete Brady Bunch, a factory set that covers all 117 episodes over 59 cards. The set also has the first autograph cards from several key cast members. All the Brady kids except for Marcia have signatures in the set. For every two sets ordered, an Ann B. Davis (Alice) autograph will be added. The Complete Brady Bunch is limited to 500 sets.
Estimated Release Date: 12/14/11
Product Configuration: 64-card factory set
Price Point: Mid- to High-End Entertainment Card
Target Audience: Brady Bunch Fans, Entertainment Card Collectors, Classic TV Fans, Autograph Collectors
Set Break
- Five Autographs
- 59-Card Base Set
- 64 Total Cards
Product Highlights:
- 59-card base set covers all 117 episodes of the series.
- Every set comes with autographs from five of the six Brady kids: Barry Williams (Greg), Eve Plumb (Jan), Christopher Knight (Peter), Susan Olsen (Cindy) and Mike Lookinland (Bobby).
- For every two sets purchased, collectors get an Ann B. Davis (Alice) autograph. For every four sets, two Davis autographs and a fifth base set will be awarded.
- Limited to 500 sets.
Card Gallery:
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