Buzz Break: 2011 Panini Americana trading cards (blaster box)

From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there’s a box you’d want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2011 Panini Americana trading cards (blaster box)
Where to buy: Shop around online.

Packs per box: 8
Cards per pack: 5
Cards in this box: 41
Base set completion: 
38 of 100 (38 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notables on base cards – David Carradine, Linda Hamilton, Corey Haim, Ralph Macchio, Ric Flair, Christina Applegate, Jeffrey Tambor, Leslie Nielsen, Burt Reynolds, Michael Madsen, Michelle Beadle, Pamela Anderson, Emmanuelle Chriqui, Selma Blair

Insert/short-print cards: 2  (gallery below)
Matinee Legends (1) – Bettie Page
Screen Gems (1) – Justin Bieber

Autographs/Memorabilia: 1
Movie Posters Materials (1) – Mae West & Cary Grant (/499)

What’s Buzz-worthy: Panini America’s 2011 take on Americana was one that might not have any autograph ink in its retail blasters (not mentioned on box but still on wrappers) and that’s perhaps why boxes like this one can be had for $5 or less. Most boxes will include a poster memorabilia card like this one — cards that have the poster from a movie for the memorabilia —  shown on the front. Some will include other memorabilia cards (insert parallels). On the hobby side, these boxes (four packs, four hits) are drying up and they include autographs every time so that’s the best way to go to land ink from some big names out there. (See the gallery below for the possibilities.) The blaster boxes are relatively dry with a hit and typically two inserts, though one insert is a possibility. The design is easier to see here with the retail version not being printed on foilboard so that’s a plus (no fingerprints) but this also might be one of the lesser Americana releases for the base card design. If you can get these dirt cheap (this one was less than $5), they are worth a rip in bulk just for fun. At that price with some luck you can come out ahead on the hits. As a collector, it’s a cheap and somewhat fun way to amass some notable Hollywood names’ memorabilia cards. This one was a box that made this collector want to rip some hobby boxes of this stuff soon. There are some big-name autos that it worth a serious look.

Product Grade: A-
Box Grade: B-
Fun Grade: B-

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