Again, I don't really know who was in charge of the art design group at Collector's Edge, but one has to wonder where they got their ideas.  The first set in 1992 was a classic and It was a nice way to enter the hobby.  The cards were sequentially numbered, the plastic stock was a real innovative idea and they came in a nice collectors box, (See the 1992 Collector's Edge "Rickey Jackson" #114 below).  However, after that a majority of their sets were real duds.  The 1996 Collector's Edge Advantage set was a real downer, (See #2 on My Least Favorite Sets).  It had a real ugly front side which really underutilized its given area and its a good example of why I normally don't like cut-out players pasted onto a crazy background.  However, this set did have the Truly remarkable "Game Ball" cards, (See the 1996 Collector's Edge Advantage "Terrell Davis" Game Ball Insert #32 below), and they made up for any shortfall the set had.

Well, Collectors Edge had a handful of those one-hit wonders.   These sets may have looked good in the boardroom or even did well as a insert set, but put them in a set all to themselves and the hobby just looks the other way.  However, one such set, the 1997 Collector's Edge Extreme set with the Game Gear Quads, (See the 1997 CE Extreme "Eddie George" #12D Game Gear Shoe Quad below),  was a very cool, innovative set that didn't return in 1998.  The 1997 Collector's Edge Extreme Game Gear Quads Insert set made Collector's Edge the first card producer that included "Shoes" and "Pants" as part of the "Game Used" world of collecting.   I'm clueless as to why it was terminated.

I have No idea what gave Collector's Edge the idea of combining Football Card Collecting with the Dragon Slayer / Merlin era, (See the 1995 Excalibur Jake Reed #46 below).  I know all this card shows is a sword, but on some other cards Collector's Edge goes as far as showing a knight or a dragon's tail.  Does anyone have a clue why CE did this?  I would've loved to have been in the boardroom when that one came across!!  Regardless, I don't think this was the brightest marketing idea to come along in the hobby.  Outside the 1997 Excalibur Game Helmet Insert set, (See #7 on My Favorite Insert Sets),  I really didn't have too much interest in the Excalibur series.

Another problem I had with Collector's Edge is the utilization of the back.  This goes for almost every card of theirs, (Exception, 1998 Collector's Edge Advantage Memorable Moments Gameball Set).  I've included a comparison below between the 1997 Upper Deck Legends base set and the 1998 Collectors Edge 1st Place Successors Insert base set. Now, it's clear from the pictures that the "James Lofton" Legends card back includes: 1) Full Career Stats, 2) Short Career Synopsis, 3) Career Highlights, (Yellow Box) and 4) Small Picture, (Same picture as front, I guess, they had to cut corners somewhere).  Total utilization of card space. It makes for a very memorable set. 

On the other side, The Collector's Edge 1st Place card has: 1)Very Large picture of a Football, 2) Player Information. This is all.

The difference is plain to see, but the real problem is why? Why can't Collector's Edge put more effort into their card designs.  First, I can look at the back of the Legends card and tell why its called "Legends".  James Lofton was a Football Legend due to the numbers he put up, (career stats), or if you still have any doubts the synopsis / highlights on the right should help shed some light on the issue.

When I look at the Successors card back, (or front for that matter), I have no idea why it's called Successors.  Is Cris Carter, Anthony Carter's Successor? Has Cris Carter had a successful career? If so, explain why. In other words, what's the purpose of this set? This is my problem with Collector's Edge.  How long did it take for them to put this card design together? And not only that, why did they bother.

  Below I list my Collector's Edge collection.                                                                 

I have the following sets:

Collector's Edge Series:

1) 1992 Collector's Edge Set

2) 1993 Collector's Edge Set

    A) Rookies F / X Insert

    B) Elway Prism Insert

    C) Checklist Insert

3) 1994 Collector's Edge Set

    A) Boss Rookies Insert

    B) Boss Rookies Update Insert

    C) Boss Squad Insert

    D) F / X Insert

4) 1995 Collector's Edge Set

    A) EdgeTech Insert

    B) Rookies Insert

    C) 12th Man Insert

    D) Nitro Redemption Insert

5) 1996 Collector's Edge Set

    A) Big Easy Insert

    B) Ripped Insert

    C) Cowboybilia Insert

Collector's Edge Advantage Series:

1) 1996 Collector's Edge Advantage Set

    A) Crystal Cuts Insert

    B) Role Models Insert

    C) Game Ball Insert

    D) Super Bowl Game Ball Insert

2) 1997 Collector's Edge Advantage Set - Does Not Exist

3) 1998 Collector's Edge Advantage Set - Do Not Have

    A) Memorable Moments Insert

    B) Showtime Insert - Incomplete ( 3 / 23)

    C) Personal Victory - Incomplete ( 2 / 6 )

4) 1999 Collector's Edge Advantage Set

    A) Overture Insert

    B) Jumpstarters Insert

    C) Shock Waves Insert

    D) Prime Connection Insert

    E) Memorable Moments Insert

    F) Rookie Autographs Insert - Incomplete ( 30 / 34 )

Collector's Edge Excalibur Series:

1) 1994 Excalibur Set

    A) Excalibur F/X Bonus Insert

    B) Excalibur 22K Insert

2) 1995 Excalibur Set

    A) TekTech Insert

    B) Rookie Roundtable Insert

    C) Draft Day Rookie Redemption Insert

3) 1996 Excalibur Set - Does Not Exist

4) 1997 Excalibur Set

    A) 22K Game Helmets Insert - Incomplete ( 31 / 34)

Collector's Edge First Place Series:

1) 1998 Collector's Edge First Place Set - Do Not Have

    A) Triumph Insert

    B) Successors Insert

    C) Triple Threat Insert

    D) Game Gear Jersey Insert - Incomplete ( 1 / 4 )

    E) Rookie Ink Autograph Insert - Incomplete ( 28 / 31 )

2) 1999 Collector's Edge First Place Set

    A) Future Legends Insert

    B) Rookie Game Gear Insert - Incomplete ( 7 / 10 )

    C) Rookie Game Gear HoloGold Insert

    D) Pro Signature Authentics Autographs - Incomplete ( 12 / 33 )

Collector's Edge Masters Series:

1) 1997 Collector's Edge Masters - Do Not Have

    A) Night Games Insert

    B) Playoff Game Ball Insert

    C) Packers Super Bowl XXXI Insert

    D) Super Bowl Game Bowl Insert - Incomplete ( 3 / 6 )

2) 1998 Collector's Edge Masters

    A) Legends Insert

    B) Sentinels Insert

    C) Main Event Insert

    D) Super Masters Insert ( 2 / 35 )

3) 1999 Collector's Edge Masters - Do Not Have

    A) Pro Signature Authentics Insert - Incomplete ( 1 / 6 )

4) 2000 Collector's Edge Masters - Do Not Have

    A) Sentinels Insert

    B) Hasta La Vista Insert

    C) Rookie Ink Insert - Incomplete ( 3 / 5 )

Collector's Edge Odyssey Series:

1) 1998 Collector's Edge Odyssey Set - Do Not Have

    A) Leading Edge Insert

    B) Double Edge Insert

    C) Prodigies Autograph Insert - Incomplete ( 19 / 35 )

2) 1999 Collector's Edge Odyssey Set - Do Not Have

    A) Game Gear Insert

    B) Pro Signature Authentics Autograph Insert - Incomplete ( 10 / 19 )

3) 2000 Collector's Edge Odyssey Set - Do Not Have

    A) Old School Insert

    B) Wasssuppp Insert

    C) Restaurant Quality Insert

    D) Rookie Ink Autograph Insert - Incomplete ( 5 / 12 )

Collector's Edge Supreme Series:

1) 1998 Collector's Edge Supreme Season Review Set - Do Not Have

    A) Review T3 Insert

2) 1999 Collector's Edge Supreme Set - Do Not Have

    A) T3 Insert

    B) Future Insert

    C) Markers Insert

    D) Homecoming Insert

3) 2000 Collector's Edge Supreme Set - Do Not Have

    A) Perfect 10 Insert

    B) Route XXXIII Insert

    C) Supreme Team Insert

    D) Monday Knights Insert

    E) Pro Signature Authentics Insert - Incomplete ( 2 / 14 )

Other Collector's Edge Series:

1) 1995 Collector's Edge Instant Replay Set

    A) Edge Tech Die Cuts Insert

2) 1996 Collector's Edge Presidents Reserve

    A) Honor Guard Insert

    B) New Regime Insert

    C) Time Warp Insert

    D) Tanned Rested Ready Insert

3) 1997 Collector's Edge Extreme Set

    A) Fury Insert

    B) Force Insert

    C) Finesse Insert

    D) Forerunners - Incomplete ( 22 / 25 )

    E) Game Gear Quads - Incomplete ( 48 / 49 )

4) 1999 Collector's Edge Fury Set

    A) Xplosive Insert

    B) Forerunners Insert

    C) Fury Game Ball Insert

    D) Extreme Team Insert

    E) Fast and Furious Insert

    F) Heir Force Insert - Incomplete ( 18 / 20 )

5) 1999 Collector's Edge Triumph Set

    A) Heir Supply Insert

    B) Pack Warriors Insert

    C) Fantasy Team Insert

    D) Future Fantasy Team Insert

    E) Commissioner's Choice Insert

    F) Sign, Sealed, Delivered - Incomplete ( 21 / 39 )

6) 2000 Collector's Edge T3 Set - Do Not Have

    A) Rookie Ink Autograph Insert - Incomplete ( 4 / 10 )

    B) Personnel Collection Insert - Incomplete ( 6 / ? )

My Collector's Edge Grades: