Eclipse Enterprises trading cards collection, 1989-1993

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Summary

Creator:
Eclipse Comics
Abstract:
Complete group of ten trading card sets on social and political topics created by California company Eclipse Enterprises, dating 1989-1993.
Extent:
0.5 Linear Feet
Language:
Materials in English
Collection ID:
RL.11186

Background

Scope and content:

Collection contains the complete run of non-sports, non-fiction boxed trading card sets produced by Eclipse Enterprises between 1989 and 1993. Titles include: Rotten to the Core: The Best and Worst of New York City's Politics; Bush League Trading Cards; Friendly Dictators Trading Cards, Featuring 36 of America's Most Embarrassing Allies; The Rock Bottom Awards: The Best and Worst in Bad Taste; Coup D'Etat: The Assassination of John F. Kennedy; Foul Ball Trading Cards: Baseball's Greatest Scandals, Scoundrels, and Screw-Ups; Savings and Loan Scandal Trading Cards; Drug Wars Trading Cards: The Straight Dope on America's Dirtiest Deals; Iran-Contra Scandal Trading Cards, Featuring the Secret Team; and AIDS Awareness Trading Cards.

Biographical / historical:

Eclipse Enterprises, also known as Eclipse Comics, was an independent American comic book publisher during the 1980s and early 1990s. In 1978, it published the first graphic novel intended for specialty comic stores; it also was one of the first companies to offer royalties and creator ownership of rights. It was also one of the early comic book publishers to produce trading cards.

Eclipse Enterprises was founded by brothers Jan and Dean Mullaney in 1977; it eventually settled and operated in Sonoma County, California. Due to the controversial products it distributed (which led to several lawsuits), as well as a devestating flood in 1986, Eclipse suffered ongoing financial hardships and eventually ceased operations in 1994. The owners filed for bankruptcy in 1995.

Acquisition information:
The Eclipse Enterprises Trading Cards Collection was received by the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book Manuscript Library as a purchase in 2016.
Processing information:

Processed by Meghan Lyon, April 2016

Accessions described in this collection guide: 2016-0033

Rules or conventions:
Describing Archives: A Content Standard

Contents

Using These Materials

Using These Materials Links:

Using These Materials


Restrictions:

Collection is open for research.

Researchers must register and agree to copyright and privacy laws before using this collection.

All or portions of this collection may be housed off-site in Duke University's Library Service Center. The library may require up to 48 hours to retrieve these materials for research use.

Please contact Research Services staff before visiting the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library to use this collection.

Terms of access:

The copyright interests in this collection have not been transferred to Duke University. For more information, consult the copyright section of the Regulations and Procedures of the David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library.

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Preferred citation:

[Identification of item], Eclipse Enterprises Trading Cards Collection, David M. Rubenstein Rare Book & Manuscript Library, Duke University.