Topps Chewing Gum, Inc. - Bubble Gum Vignette - 1982 dated Specimen Stock Certificate

1982 dated Specimen Stock printed by Security-Columbian Banknote Company. Incorporated in 1947.

Topps Chewing Gum, Inc., founded in 1938 by brothers Abram, Ira, Philip, and Joseph Shorin in Brooklyn, New York, initially launched as a relaunch of their family’s tobacco distribution business. However, to navigate the economic challenges of the late Great Depression, the company shifted its focus to selling penny chewing gum. During World War II, Topps experienced significant growth by acquiring smaller candy companies to utilize their sugar quotas and employing patriotic slogans like “Don’t Talk, Chum. Chew Topps Gum.� In 1947, the company achieved major success with the launch of Bazooka Bubble Gum, which later gained fame for its iconic “Bazooka Joe� comic strip wrappers introduced in 1953.

In the early 1950s, the company’s legacy underwent a profound transformation when it began packaging trading cards with its gum to boost sales. After experimenting with Western-themed cards, Topps released its inaugural baseball card set in 1951 and followed it up with the landmark 1952 set, designed by Sy Berger, which established the modern standard for sports cards featuring player statistics and team logos. Over the subsequent decades, Topps became a dominant force in the collectibles market, acquiring its chief rival Bowman in 1956 and expanding into entertainment brands such as Star Wars and Garbage Pail Kids. In January 2022, the Topps trading card business was acquired by Fanatics for $500 million, while the candy division was spun off into a separate entity known as Bazooka Brands. As of 2025, the Topps brand continues to release flagship sports sets, celebrating over 70 years as a cornerstone of American hobby culture.