Merlin - UK and Europe - E1: Stickers and Album (1999)

If you are familiar with Panini stickers and albums, then you have a fairly good idea what these stickers are like. Now think about all the ways Panini sticker albums and stickers could be improved. Most of those improvements have probably been made with this set. Europe once again is getting something truly wonderful while the United States is left doing without. Luckily, most US collectors will be able to find these on the Internet.

Merlin is the European division of Topps, and is headquartered in England. There are a number of Merlin offices throughout Europe however, and most Merlin products are issued throughout Europe. This particular Merlin product was issued first in the United Kingdom, and because England is the headquarters of Merlin, I am listing this as a UK product. Albums are available however in various languages however. The stickers themselves were printed in Italy (and I expect years from now someone will be convinced this is an Italian product).

The album has a hologram style cover, and is full of bright colors, and simply is a well done album.

Stickers for this set come in a number of varieties. You can forget simple little square stickers. Most stickers in this set are rectangular, somewhat in the widevision style (though naturally a bit smaller than a trading card).

A subset of Lego-themed stickers provides cut-out pictures of completed lego sets. The oblong stickers have a bright yellow border, and appropriate backgrounds have been posed behind the sets, making them look really terrific. One of the lego stickers features the Lego Star Wars logo while a second features Darth Maul 'using the Force' on Legos. Although this subset is a blatant advertisement, the stickers are really terrific.

The majority of stickers are oblong stickers of movie scenes with a sand colored border. Also included however are 'super refractor stickers' which are smaller square stickers with great hologram backgrounds. These bright and shiny stickers really stand out. There are two versions of 'metallic edge' stickers. Rather than being oblong in shape, these stickers are more standard in shape, and come in two sizes. A smaller size has a purple edge that is only slightly metallic in appearance to me, and a larger size that has a blue edge. A final sticker type is a 'holofoil engraved' sticker. These stickers have a brightly metallic finish, and feature a smaller portrait inset in a larger character image.

All of these stickers feature great images from the film.

A checklist is provided below. Because sticker backs do not contain a description, all descriptions are my own.