1964 Outer Limits Cards: A Collector's Guide

Fifty bug-eyed monsters from TV's scariest anthology, issued under the same dummy name Topps used for Mars Attacks.

The Outer Limits premiered on ABC in 1963 and gave a generation of kids nightmares with a new monster almost every week. In 1964, Topps put those monsters on cardboard, and, as with Mars Attacks, it issued the cards under the name Bubbles, Inc. The result is a 50-card set of colorized monsters and lurid stories that's a natural companion to the Martians, and one of the tougher 1960s sets to find in high grade.

The Set at a Glance

• Issuer: Topps, under the Bubbles, Inc. name.

• Cards: 50.

• Fronts: Black-and-white promotional stills from the show, colorized by Topps, set on black fronts.

• Backs: Mostly black, with a yellow comet across the top, the caption repeated as a headline and the story in a large yellow box.

Stories the Show Never Told

Here's the twist that surprises many collectors. The card stories have nothing to do with the episodes. According to Topps' Len Brown, one of the set's creators, the company couldn't afford to pay the show's writers for their storylines, so it wrote its own. The monsters are real Outer Limits creatures, but the adventures on the backs are pure Topps.

Short Prints and Double Prints

The set isn't evenly distributed. Collectors identify several double prints and many short prints, so nearly half the set is tougher to find than the rest.

• Commonly cited double prints include #3 Transparent Creature, #23 Human Insects, #32 "You Are in My Power," #40 Touch of Death and #46 Clay Man's Revenge.

• Commonly cited short prints include #4 Terror from Space, #6 Jelly Creature, #7 Unstoppable One, #26 The Death Ray, #33 Incredible Ice Man and #50 Destruction of the Clay Man, among others.

If you're building a set, expect the short prints to take most of your time and budget.

Why Condition Is So Hard

The black fronts are the set's beauty and its biggest challenge. Every ding, chip and scuff shows as white against black. On top of that:

• Corner and edge wear stands out immediately.

• Surface scratches show on the dark fields.

• Centering varies widely.

• Gum stains are common on the backs.

High-grade cards are genuinely scarce, and well-centered, sharp copies stand out clearly from typical examples.

Building the Set

Track the short prints. Keep a checklist that flags the short prints, and buy nice copies whenever they appear.

Accept the dark-border reality. Most surviving cards show some edge wear. Decide early what condition you're willing to accept.

Lock in #1 and #50. The first and last cards are both condition-sensitive, and #50 is also a commonly cited short print.

Grade selectively. Sharp short prints and high-grade cards are the natural grading candidates.

Bubbles, Inc.: Topps' Alter Ego

Topps used the Bubbles, Inc. name for a few of its edgier 1960s products, most famously Mars Attacks, possibly to keep its main brand at a distance from controversial subjects. Collectors who love one Bubbles set often collect the others. Outer Limits and Mars Attacks make a natural pair: both feature invaders, both are condition-sensitive, and both capture the monster-kid culture of the early 1960s.

Storage and Display

Use clean sleeves to avoid scratching the black surfaces, and avoid sliding cards in and out of tight holders. Semi-rigid or magnetic holders are gentler for your best copies. For display, a frame of favorite monsters with UV-protective glass makes a great conversation piece.

Pricing Outer Limits Cards

Price research for this set has two layers: whether a card is a short print, and its condition. Short prints in strong condition carry the highest premiums, while double prints are the easiest cards to find. Because the black borders make condition so visible, photos matter more than labels. Compare graded sales with graded sales, and look closely at the edges in raw listings.

Wax Packs and Wrappers

Original Outer Limits wrappers and unopened material are prized by monster-card collectors, and authenticated unopened boxes have appeared at auction. As with all sealed vintage product, authentication is essential.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cards are in the 1964 Outer Limits set?

Fifty cards.

Who made the 1964 Outer Limits cards?

Topps made them, but issued them under the name Bubbles, Inc., the same name it used for Mars Attacks.

Do the Outer Limits card stories match the TV episodes?

No. Topps wrote its own stories, because it couldn't afford to pay the show's writers.

Why are high-grade Outer Limits cards so scarce?

The black fronts and backs show every bit of wear, and several cards were short-printed.

Are there Outer Limits reprints?

Be cautious with any card that looks too bright or crisp for a 1964 issue. When in doubt, buy graded or from a dealer who guarantees authenticity.

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