DS France 98

[Caniggia]

ALBUM WORLD CUP FRANCE 98 - EDIZIONI DS, MODENA (ITALY)


The story behind Iran stickers... Many people (at least here in Italy) still think Panini not printed due to no authorization by Iran government/football association for political or similar reasons.

The reason was only one, Iran already done an exclusive agreement with DS for their team. I really don't know if they have payed more but when Panini already preparared the album, they understood was not possible to print the stickers


This factory, DS, was also from Modena and they have realized some albums in that period (music groups, italian championship, etc) and they have tryed to "fight" against Panini about world cup album. Of course they lost, except for the opportunity to be the only album with Iran stickers! (only official, I mean)

Even I prefer Panini style, album is good. The most beautiful part is the beginnig with 2 pages of shiny stickers about past World Cup (from 66 to 94, the editions before only infos not stickers). Then each player has a sticker "in action", not all pics are perfect but in general yes... on my opinion I don't like too much players of same team with different color of shirt!


But no shiny stickers of flag, no flag of national team at all. Other particular thing is understandig how DS decided to divide teams to give more space or less, except the main ones. Maybe they were going to sell album in north Africa more than some parts of East Europe..

ALBUM has 66 pages and 370 stickers, the teams:

2 pages, 15 stickers (15 players)
Brasil, Maroc, Italia, Chile, Austria, France, Spain, Holland, Belgium, Mexico, Germany, Jugoslavia, England, Tunisie, Argentina, Croatia

1 page, 7 stickers (14 players)
Scotland, Norway, Camerun, Danmark, South Africa, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Paraguay, Bulgaria, South Korea, Usa, Iran, Colombia, Romania, Japan, Jamaica

p.s. for more pics please go to SHOWCASE area

 

[Pavle]

Thanks for sharing great story about album and publishers. I had no idea that DS was involved in producing collections aimed at music lovers. I really like the page which features historical aspect. Good amount of shiny stickers!

And the story about Iran team agreeing with DS instead with Panini makes a lot of sense to me. I had no idea about that! If that is true, then I think many will be happy to finally know the real reason for missing Iran team in Panini´s 1998 World Cup.

Somehow I like the players in action. Oh gosh and Brazilian and French team from 98! So many legends there. Here is a link to Canniga showcase, where more photos of this interesting album can be seen.

 

[Andy]

I still wonder why only Panini UK were allowed to supply the Iran stickers for the 1998 collection...interesting story about DS having the rights...if that intelligent guess is right, maybe as the DS album was not released in UK this is the reason why Panini were allowed to print the stickers (eventually after set was released)...while other worldwide branches were not??

good thinking lads...

 

[dantzig]

That's a good point about Iran stickers... But I don't get the difference for some other teams that Panini didn't had the official licensing.

Panini didn't had permission to use official pictures from Morocco, Chile, Nigeria and England, but they issued the players with training suits... Iran wasn't even issued anything... So what sort of agreement was made to not allow Panini to even issue Iran stickers at the time?

I still wonder why only Panini UK were allowed to supply the Iran stickers for the 1998 collection...interesting story about DS having the rights...if that intelligent guess is right, maybe as the DS album was not released in UK this is the reason why Panini were allowed to print the stickers (eventually after set was released)...while other worldwide branches were not??

good thinking lads...

Maybe Panini got the rights shortly after the collection release and UK branch took the chance to release those stickers... But I don't know when they were really released.

 

[Caniggia]

For sure something changed when album was already out and UK edition is not first one. The first was with magazine Guerin Sportivo, already in june 98, later Uk edition and I don't remember when Panini also printed these stickers

The edition in Guerin Sportivo are not stickers. Just for info, my copy of France98 is without Iran stickers plus the magazine with the paper inside. I didn't find Panini stickers and now is quiet impossible to understand which one are originals and which one are copies

 

[Andy]

from memory without hunting up my album guys as its away in large box ready to sort out... (will post pics eventually)....in regards to Iran Stickers for Panini album they were never issued in packs, when ordered by mail the missing numbers i required for album they sent back a covering letter and a single sheet of all the stickers in respect of Iran on them with a branding at the bottom of the stickers saying only released for panini uk or something like that?? I must find up my folder for France 98 panini and will post pics as i can assure i had the originals as i remember collecting at the time as was my 1st world cup album i collected!!
I only wish it wasnt my 1st album i collected as i wouldve ordered more iran stickers had i realised and been more with it...!!

 

[Mariano Arias]

Two coments about Panini Iran 98 stickers and DS album:
In latin america people belived (i don not know why) that the Iran stickers in 98 have not been printed by religioud reazons, and today still belive that. In fact very few know the printed sheets for Italy or England. In some countrys, like Venezuela, Colombia and Mexico, local paninis Company released also a printed sheets whit iran players, this sheet is diferent for the europes one, the Iran players have white shirts (I can send images of a local Venezuelan sheet).

In Venezuela a local company call Reyauca, print the DS 98 album, under license of DS company. But for logistical (we belived they have others) reason Reyauca include the stickers in an envelope whit other 98 album stickers, so you collect both albumes at the same time, whit makes very dificult complete any of the albumes. In that time each packet have 2 stickers of one album and one sticker of DS album, so you have to buy a lot for try to get all. It was a nigthmare for collectors.

Regards

 

[dantzig]

For sure something changed when album was already out and UK edition is not first one. The first was with magazine Guerin Sportivo, already in june 98, later Uk edition and I don't remember when Panini also printed these stickers

The edition in Guerin Sportivo are not stickers. Just for info, my copy of France98 is without Iran stickers plus the magazine with the paper inside. I didn't find Panini stickers and now is quiet impossible to understand which one are originals and which one are copies

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Aha! Now I understand why I saw two different Iran sheets! One is italian, the other is english! Caniggia, you're a valuable source of information, thanks a lot for sharing!

from memory without hunting up my album guys as its away in large box ready to sort out... (will post pics eventually)....in regards to Iran Stickers for Panini album they were never issued in packs, when ordered by mail the missing numbers i required for album they sent back a covering letter and a single sheet of all the stickers in respect of Iran on them with a branding at the bottom of the stickers saying only released for panini uk or something like that?? I must find up my folder for France 98 panini and will post pics as i can assure i had the originals as i remember collecting at the time as was my 1st world cup album i collected!!
I only wish it wasnt my 1st album i collected as i wouldve ordered more iran stickers had i realised and been more with it...!!

Whoever predicted that those Iran sheets would be very valuable has done a very nice profit from it... I don't have that sheet and I'll surely not pay what they sell on ebay (unless I become rich hehe).

Two coments about Panini Iran 98 stickers and DS album:
In latin america people belived (i don not know why) that the Iran stickers in 98 have not been printed by religioud reazons, and today still belive that. In fact very few know the printed sheets for Italy or England. In some countrys, like Venezuela, Colombia and Mexico, local paninis Company released also a printed sheets whit iran players, this sheet is diferent for the europes one, the Iran players have white shirts (I can send images of a local Venezuelan sheet).

In Venezuela a local company call Reyauca, print the DS 98 album, under license of DS company. But for logistical (we belived they have others) reason Reyauca include the stickers in an envelope whit other 98 album stickers, so you collect both albumes at the same time, whit makes very dificult complete any of the albumes. In that time each packet have 2 stickers of one album and one sticker of DS album, so you have to buy a lot for try to get all. It was a nigthmare for collectors.

Regards

Makes sense the religious argument, we know how serious so many people take that issue... Though there were other muslim countries in the World Cup.

If I understood correctly, that Reyauca publisher issued both Panini and DS stickers in the same packets?

 

[Mariano Arias]

Aha! Now I understand why I saw two different Iran sheets! One is italian, the other is english! Caniggia, you're a valuable source of information, thanks a lot for sharing!


Whoever predicted that those Iran sheets would be very valuable has done a very nice profit from it... I don't have that sheet and I'll surely not pay what they sell on ebay (unless I become rich hehe).

Makes sense the religious argument, we know how serious so many people take that issue... Though there were other muslim countries in the World Cup.

If I understood correctly, that Reyauca publisher issued both Panini and DS stickers in the same packets?

Belived or not the people say that in my country. I do not know where that idea come from...

Reyauca issued DS stickers and other album (not Panini) in the same packets (ussing 1 to 2 ratio as i sayd)

Finally exist a third sheet for Iran players, the italian whit most Iran players whit red shirts, Englan one whit most Iran Players whit yellow shirts, and Latin america sheet (almost Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela get it) whit most players in white shirts.

 

[dantzig]

Belived or not the people say that in my country. I do not know where that idea come from...

Reyauca issued DS stickers and other album (not Panini) in the same packets (ussing 1 to 2 ratio as i sayd)

Finally exist a third sheet for Iran players, the italian whit most Iran players whit red shirts, Englan one whit most Iran Players whit yellow shirts, and Latin america sheet (almost Mexico, Colombia and Venezuela get it) whit most players in white shirts.

I do believe, even more with south american countries, because they're very religious... So I'm not even surprised if there was a rumour like that.

Ah, so it was DS and some other... Probably they were partners and teamed up to save costs... But publishers have to think about customers and not what's best to them.

Thank you for the Iran info, I didn't know there were 3 different Iran stickers (never saw those with white shirts)... Can you please share a photo from that sheet? And were those sheets published with some magazine or newspaper, like UK and Italy?

 

[Makhno]

Hi guys,
I made some enquiries and had some emails with Panini regarding this "Iran affair" and here are what I know so far about this.

* Here in France, a lot a people still think, like in America, that it was about religious reasons (wish it is bulshit of course !).
At this time, the italian daily "Corriere Della Sera" published an article explaining the story between Panini and DS. Other daily did it too : l'Unita. They are both, of course, in italian language. The PDF files are attached at the end of this post.

* The update sheet from Panini were supplied in UK, but not only, like a Panini official told me :

"Panini UK actually had to print a sheet with the Iranian players in the UK as we did not have a license to print the stickers in time before the album was released. After we managed to get them printed customers telephoned in and we sent many thousands of sheets out in the post to them.. We also supplied this sheet to customers in Spain".

A good friend from Netherlands also told me that he ordered this sheet to Panini at this time and received it. A bit I guess like what succeded with Eder Balanta sticker for the last WC (no official information from Panini but if you asked, like I did, you could receive the good sticker from them)

Here is the right sheet :



* Guerin Sportivo edited an inlay sheet with Panini authorization. The players have red shirts and the sheet is not adhesive.
It is also interesting to know that this version was chosen by Panini to represent Iran team in its compilation book for all WC :



* Other versions of Panini iran team stickers with white shirts and with white and red shirts also exist and has been mainly seen in South America. Panini told me there were not officials and surely fakes. Mariano, are you absolutly sure that these versions were printed by offical local Panini ???
Anyway, here are these other 2 versions :



* Last item : some people edited a fake but very well done Iran shiny badge (which is not exist in the official update editons) :

 

[Mariano Arias]

I do believe, even more with south american countries, because they're very religious... So I'm not even surprised if there was a rumour like that.

Ah, so it was DS and some other... Probably they were partners and teamed up to save costs... But publishers have to think about customers and not what's best to them.

Thank you for the Iran info, I didn't know there were 3 different Iran stickers (never saw those with white shirts)... Can you please share a photo from that sheet? And were those sheets published with some magazine or newspaper, like UK and Italy?

I do believe, even more with south american countries, because they're very religious... So I'm not even surprised if there was a rumour like that.

Ah, so it was DS and some other... Probably they were partners and teamed up to save costs... But publishers have to think about customers and not what's best to them.

Thank you for the Iran info, I didn't know there were 3 different Iran stickers (never saw those with white shirts)... Can you please share a photo from that sheet? And were those sheets published with some magazine or newspaper, like UK and Italy?

 

[Mariano Arias]

Here is an image of the sheet. In Venezuela the local Panini representative (call Kaluca) distribute the sheets, you only have to aks for in their office and they give you one (in that year). I hear or read that in Mexico a local magazine include the sheet but not sure about the name.
By the way the people hear do not like the sticker used to replace the flag, because really is not a flag is just the mascot whit a flag, but this is was the sheet include.

 

[dantzig]

@Mariano Arias , Those stickers are the best ones from the three versions... It seems a very good job from Panini in South America.
Indeed, I noticed three stickers with the mascot and flag... Strange they released 3 stickers, but it seems it was just to fill all the sheet.

@Makhno I think you were also in the previous Cardzreview forum, so wasn't someone there who said he received the Iran sheet cut in three, so it could fit a DL envelope? But of course, printed by Panini UK... So anyone who asked by mail has received the sheet cut in three pieces.

Panini did choose the worst version stickers to put in compilation (it's those albums with printed stickers, right?), but since it was the italian version, it makes sense.

I saw that fake shiny Iran badge, looks really neat... Glad to see some imagination when Panini fails.

 

[Makhno]

@dantzig You are right. This is exactly what this friend told me : "Hi, these sheets were distributed by Panini Netherlands and originate from Panini UK. In Holland they used small envelops to ship the sheets. As a result they had to cut the sheet in 3 pieces so it would fit in the envelop."

 

[Mariano Arias]

@dantzig Yes, the reason is to fill the sheet.

@Makhno, A friend for Netherland send me the Iran sheet cut in 3 (as you say), i did not know the reason was to fit in the envelopes, but make sense. Also i did not belived my "copy" are original, but you know is the original are stickers or just printed in a sheet? I read the original Italian ones are not stickers.

Regards

 

[Makhno]

@Mariano Arias The original Panini sheet printed in UK (yellow shirts) are stickers, not just printed like the italian version from Guerin Sportivo

 

[Mariano Arias]

@Hakhno. Thanks... Hum now i begin to thing may be i have and original , because why some one will print the stickers cut in 3. I saw a lot of copies of the England sheet in ebay and always in just one part or the stcikers apart. My cut sheet is old (I have for 5 years since a friend send to my) but look old no new print, even the back look little dirt). But who really knows... Now i will take much more care...

 

[Makhno]

@Mariano Arias Original sheets can be plain or cut. It is very difficult to know if your copy is original or not. Most fake sets have no printed back but some have. But originals ones are not so rare. Like Panini said, they printed and sent "many thousands of sheets" at this time.

 

[Andy]

I think what people are explaining is the following regarding whether the sheet was cut into 3 parts...
1. the guy from Netherlands is saying he requested the sheet from Panini UK and they cut into 3 parts to ship the item as a standard letter from the UK rather than large letter, shipping cost...? that actually makes sense, but could be true or not...depending on if you believe the person from Netherlands who was selling it.
2. UK purchasers of the missing stickers for Iran by mail order at the time like me got their sheet of Iran stickers in 1 piece with a covering letter explaining why they were not available in packets.

i think that is my educated guess anyway??