Panini Mexico 1970 (Review + discussion)

[Pavle]

This topic is dedicated to anything related to Panini's Mexico 70 sticker album. This is the first WC collection ever released by Panini. This set is one of the most sought-after in this hobby and the priciest at the same time.

A complete album can be bought on online auction sites such as eBay for approximately 1500-5000$ depending on its condition.

It is good to know that Mexico 1970 was one of a kind set with a combination of cards and stickers in one. Actually it can be said that this set was more card then sticker set, since it contained only a few self-adhesive stickers.

Collection information :

• Cards/Stickers : 1-288
• Album : 50 pages
• Album size : 23 x 24 cm

Album Variations

Panini produced at least three versions of Mexico 70:

• English version
• Italian Version
• International Version

English one, with the album priced at two shillings; a European one, which went primarily to West Germany, Spain and France; and an Italian one.

The English and European albums had similar covers. The Italian one was different. All are now rare, with the English edition the rarest of all.

Click on the image to view larger image.
INTERNATIONAL EDITION



ENGLAND EDITION



ITALIAN EDITION



Stickers and cards Mexico 70 Panini Variations

Since there is plenty of information about the what are the differences in stickers and cards I will just list them bellow.




Different sticker packets

International version

English Version pack

ITALIAN L20 VERSION

Unknown variation

omaggio version

omaggio blank white version

L20 BISVALIDA VERSION

L20 Omaggio (do not have back photo)


Extra stickers and merchandise

I do not have much information about this poster. So it would be good if anyone can provide more info on it.

Additional resources for Mexico 70

Here are some good articles which can help you find out more about this collection:

• 
  
  
  • Mexico 70 article and review - Written by Pavle (myself) on Cardzreview blog.
  • Italian edition of the album on PaniniNations blog written by Adriano
  • Scans of all cards/stickers on Nigel's Webspace by Nigel

Bellow is an expert of an interesting article published by Hyder Jawad, BackPass magazine, page 62. Its about the reasons why Mexico 70 is so sought-after. Article goes even deeper by explaining how distribution of this collection worked in 1970, and how Panini UK and their distributors messed things up. Article also talks about piracy of this collection.

As you know no copying from other sites is allowed on this forum, but since there was no information on this online ,I typed out the part of the article and you can read it in full by clicking on the image bellow the part.

It was the deal of a lifetime. Or should have been. When Thorpe & Porter of Leicester acquired the British rights to distribute the Figurine Panini Mexico 70 sticker collection, the directors found themselves sitting on pure gold.

Cardboard boxes of the stuff. In paper form. The problem was, nobody deigned to tell these chaps the good news. Panini no longer has the UK balance sheet for the Mexico 70 collection, but all indications are that the sales were low and distribution limited. Now, a complete album in good condition will fetch £2,000, an unused album in good condition will fetch £1,000, and even the individual stickers can fetch up to £25 each. Do not even think about the many hundreds of unsold cards and albums that Thome & Porter threw on to the skip after the tournament ended. It will give you a headache.

This dysfunctional company, which had already fallen into the hands of liquidators in 1966, and would fold altogether in the mid-1970s, made a mess of its pre-sale and post-sale strategies. Collectors today are paying the price. Pirates, with their dodgy reproductions, are cashing in. With Mexico 70, Panini moved into the international market for the first time. The company, founded by Giuseppe Panini in Modena, Italy, was already nine years old, making a lot of money from its annual Calciatori collection, and keen for expansion. The 1966 World Cup in England sparked an unprecedented interest in football memorabilia, and Britain seemed the obvious next step for Panini.

Click on the image bellow to view full article.



Huge thanks to everyone who contributed and are contributing by adding information. Special thanks to Pete and @Makhno for amazing efforts.

 

[Caniggia]

My suggestion is taking care a lot before buy this album on internet. There are many replicas or fakes. There is any official reprint of album (with stickers/cards, Panini has only done as an illustration book). Replicas/Fakes are really similar with original, also with back.

 

[Pavle]

@Caniggia This is quite controversial topic. It would be a good idea to great sort of a guide to help people distunquish fake Mexico 70 from the real one, since it can be quite costly mistake. If you have some examples to share, it would be handy to have all about this collection in this topic.

 

[Makhno]

Really good idea to gather knowledge about this album and to release some guidelines. Will be very helpful.

 

[Caniggia]

I'll try to help, anyway if you have album/cards in your hand you can recognize it, because quality of paper from past to present is very different. The big matter is of course buying on internet just watching some pics. Anyway due to high cost of original one, i can understand if someone buy the fake/unofficial replica instead of original. But in this case the price must be from 50 to (really maximum) 100 euro, not more.

 

[Pavle]

Guys I added the significant amount of updates to the original first post. Added photos of all album variations and also pack and stickers different versions including some extra stuff.
Please if you know anything more I would appreciate if you can add photo or additional info. All the info that we collect will go to the first post so that we can keep everything organized. There will be such posts for all other Panini WC and EC albums.

 

[Mariano Arias]

Excellent article Pavle. I saw some pictures of this album in Spanish, some people thing a Mexican version of this album exist, until now i do not know is this is true. Someone know about? Thanks

 

[Pavle]

@Mariano Arias I somehow think that those editions are fake. It would be great if someone can prove me wrong and provide photos with Panini Logo on those albums. But if you read the article at the bottom of the original first post, you will see it says where collection was distributed. It does not mention Mexico. However it mentions Spain so it can be another version. Any photos?

 

[Makhno]

Excellent article Pavle. I saw some pictures of this album in Spanish, some people thing a Mexican version of this album exist, until now i do not know is this is true. Someone know about? Thanks

Hi Mariano.
I never heard about a spanish edition (which is for me the International edition). Do you have more information ?
Regarding a Mexican edition, I'm absolutly sure it does not exist. Panini started to sign partnership with south american editors with the WC 82 album (there is for example a venezuelian edition by Cromos Venezolanos under Panini license).

 

[Caniggia]

Hi Mariano.
I never heard about a spanish edition (which is for me the International edition). Do you have more information ?
Regarding a Mexican edition, I'm absolutly sure it does not exist. Panini started to sign partnership with south american editors with the WC 82 album (there is for example a venezuelian edition by Cromos Venezolanos under Panini license).

Mexico version does exist but is a fake copy printed later, i heard about bus is not official and not same quality.

 

[Makhno]

I also think these edition, if they exist, are fakes.

 

[ilias]

Pavle I did not know there was so many different packets!!! Thank you for the information

 

[chriswiggy]

Terrific choice of topic for discussion Pavle. That 1970 poster is truly amazing. Never seen one before. Also the Panini Nations link is very useful. I wasn't aware of that site until now.

 

[Makhno]

As far as I know, the poster was included with the italian edition of the album. To be confirmed.

 

[Agustín]

Here in Argentina that complete album is available in the Internet for 300-400 dollars (I do not know the condition of them).

This Mexico 1970 and all the other Panini World Cup albums were released, for this 2014 World Cup, as special replica and authorized by Panini editions with a promotion of one of the biggest newspapers here. I have them all.

 

[Caniggia]

Here in Argentina that complete album is available in the Internet for 300-400 dollars (I do not know the condition of them).

This Mexico 1970 and all the other Panini World Cup albums were released, for this 2014 World Cup, as special replica and authorized by Panini editions with a promotion of one of the biggest newspapers here. I have them all.

but this replica are illustration book, correct? like was in Italy around 15 years ago. Of course are not for collectors

 

[Agustín]

but this replica are illustration book, correct? like was in Italy around 15 years ago. Of course are not for collectors

It´s more a magazine that a book, one per each WC album. I don´t know if they are for collectors or not, but I liked them and got them!

 

[Pavle]

Here in Argentina that complete album is available in the Internet for 300-400 dollars

This sounds like its too good to be truth. Are you sure they are completed and original? Now I would love to come to Argentina and get one of these for that price!

 

[Makhno]

I can't imagine these albums as guenuine for that price.

 

[Agustín]

This sounds like its too good to be truth. Are you sure they are completed and original? Now I would love to come to Argentina and get one of these for that price!

Sorry I was mixing myself up with the Mexico 1986