Got a loft full of old Panini albums? Here’s how to tell the real stickers from the fakes, what makes an album worth something, and how to finish one that’s nearly full. I’m not going to quote prices – they jump around, especially in World Cup years – so check completed sales before you list anything!
A quick bit of history
Panini’s first UK league album was Football 78, I think, and the annual albums ran right through the 1980s into the Premier League era. The shiny foil badges (the “shinies”) are what most people remember, and half the time they were the stickers that never turned up.
When you’re researching an album, note the year, the number of stickers on the checklist and what the packets cost. It helps with working out whether you’ve got an original.
How to identify original Panini stickers and fakes
Fakes and reprints exist, mainly for the star players and whole sets. A few things to check:
- Paper that is bright white and slick is probably modern. Old paper is usually a bit yellowed.
- Blurry or over-sharp printing is a warning sign, and so are borders that drift from one sticker to the next.
- Foil badges should have an even shine, not a patchy one.
- Compare against scans of an album you know is real. That’s the best test I know of.
What makes an album worth something?
- A complete album, in good condition, with flat pages and nobody’s writing on them.
- Famous names, especially early appearances.
- Stickers that were hard to find at the time.
- The late 70s and early 80s albums seem to be the ones people want most.
Where to buy and sell
eBay is where most of the volume is, and specialist dealers are better if you want someone to check the stickers for you. Auction houses are worth it for the very rare ones, but they take fees. Be suspicious of any “mint” bulk lot that looks too good to be true, and hold on to wrappers and invoices if you have them.
Finishing an old album
- Write down the missing numbers.
- Go for the badges and the star players first, because they cost the most.
- Swap with other collectors where you can. Forums and Facebook groups are the places to look.
- Set a limit per sticker. World Cup years push prices up.
Storing them
Keep albums upright in acid-free boxes, and well away from damp lofts and garages. Put loose stickers in polypropylene sleeves (not PVC) and don’t leave them in direct sunlight. And never glue an original sticker onto a new page!
Questions people ask
Which UK Panini albums do people want most? The early ones, Football 78 to Football 80, especially complete with the badges in place.
Are reprints common? Yes, so use the checklist above and buy from someone who’ll take it back.
If you like this era you might want to read what boots footballers wore in the 1980s too.