Fleer

Fleer Corporation, founded in 1885 by Frank H. Fleer in Philadelphia, established itself as one of the major players in the collectible card market. Initially specialized in confectionery and chewing gum, the company revolutionized the industry by creating the first commercially viable bubble gum, "Dubble Bubble", in 1928.

Fleer's entry into the world of collectible cards dates back to 1923 with a series of 120 cards including Babe Ruth, but it was truly in the 1980s that the company took off. After a legal battle lasting several years against Topps, Fleer obtained in 1980 the right to produce baseball cards with active players, thus breaking its competitor's monopoly.

The 1990s marked Fleer's golden age with emblematic series such as Marvel Masterpieces. The 1994 series, illustrated by brothers Greg and Tim Hildebrandt, constitutes the third installment of this premium line. The 1995 series introduces one of the most coveted insert cards in the history of Marvel cards, notably the extremely rare Mirage cards with lenticular technology.

In 1995, Fleer merged with SkyBox International, but the company went bankrupt in 2005. Upper Deck then acquired certain assets, preserving the Fleer legacy through nostalgic re-editions that perpetuate the tradition of this legendary brand.