View source for Pokémon Merlin cards

{{Merchandise Infobox
| name = Pokémon Merlin cards
| image = Merlin-collections-logo.jpg
| image_size = 250
| caption = Merlin logo
| date = 1999 - 2005
| manufacturer = Merlin Collections
| type = Trading cards
}}
'''Pokémon Merlin Cards''' are a series of [[Pokémon card]]s that were produced by Merlin Collections. Merlin Collections was a British publishing firm who released a variety of sticker collections during the late 1980s and 1990s, they also designed trading cards, card games and pogs. Although most notably releasing football stickers in particularly for the Premier League and Series A, they also designed collections around television shows like [[Pokémon]].

These cards can be removed from their backside and stuck in special collectors' albums. When removing the sticker from the backside, it stops being a 'card' however.

==Merlin & Topps==
In 1993 the company became known as Merlin Publishing International PLC before being bought out by Topps in 1995. They were absorbed into the company, being renamed Topps Europe Limited, although the name Merlin would continue as a brand under the Topps name initially until 2008. All Pokémon Merlin Cards were published under this name since the production lasted till 2005.

==Card quality==
Merlin cards are known to be prone to damage and alteration. The delicate cardboard stock used for the stickers on the Merlin cards make them fragile.

==Collecting summary==
Merlin produced 7 different card sets between 1999 and 2005:

{| class="roundy" style="margin:auto; background:#{{Colorschemedark|Johto}}; border: 3px solid #{{Colorschemelight|Johto}}"
! Set
! Release year
! No. of cards
! Example 1
! Example 2
! Backside
|- style="background:#fff"
| [[Pokémon Merlin Series 1]]
| 1999
| 276 cards
| [[File:Pokemon Merlin - series 1 - 6.jpg|120px]]
| [[File:Pokemon Merlin - series 1 - s25.jpg|120px]]
| [[File:Pokemon Merlin - series 1 - backside 1.jpeg|120px]]
|- style="background:#fff"
| [[Pokémon Merlin Series 2]]
| 2000
| 216 cards
| [[File:Pokemon Merlin - series 2 - 2.jpg|120px]]
| [[File:Pokemon Merlin - series 2 - 102.jpg|120px]]
| [[File:Pokemon Merlin - series 2 - backside 2.jpeg|120px]]
|- style="background:#fff"
| [[Pokémon Merlin Series 3]]
| 2001
| 126 cards
| [[File:Pokemon Merlin - series 3 - 43.jpg|120px]]
| [[File:Pokemon Merlin - series 3 - 42.jpg|120px]]
| [[File:Pokemon Merlin - series 3 - backside 7.jpg|120px]]
|- style="background:#fff"
| [[Pokémon Merlin Series 4]]
| 2001
| 198 cards
| [[File:Pokemon Merlin - series 4 - 3.jpg|120px]]
| [[File:Pokemon Merlin - series 4 - 9.jpg|120px]]
| [[File:Pokemon Merlin - series 4 - backside 3.jpeg|120px]]
|- style="background:#fff"
| [[Pokémon Merlin Series 5]] - Johto League
| 2002
| 198 cards
| [[File:Pokemon Merlin - series 5 - p1.jpg|120px]]
| [[File:Pokemon Merlin - series 5 - 90 91.jpg|120px]]
| [[File:Pokemon Merlin - series 5 - backside p1.jpeg|120px]]
|- style="background:#fff"
| [[Pokémon Merlin Series 6]] - Advanced
| 2004
| 240 cards
| [[File:Pokemon Merlin - series 6 - a.jpg|120px]]
| [[File:Pokemon Merlin - series 6 - p11.jpg|120px]]
| [[File:Pokemon Merlin - series 6 - backside 1.jpeg|120px]]
|- style="background:#fff"
| [[Pokémon Merlin Series 7]] - Ultimate sticker
| 2005
| 193 cards (2 artworks on 1 card)
| [[File:Pokemon Merlin - series 7 - 1 128.jpg|120px]]
| [[File:Pokemon Merlin - series 7 - p1 55.jpg|120px]]
| [[File:Pokemon Merlin - series 7 - backside 1 128.jpeg|120px]]
|}

===Other card sets===
Besides the 7 series sets there are 3 additional released sets; one smaller cards & a mini binder; one line of 'tattoo' cards which which can be made wet and put on skin to leave the Pokémon; lastly a 10 year anniversary with see through cards!

{| class="roundy" style="margin:auto; background:#{{Colorschemedark|Johto}}; border: 3px solid #{{Colorschemelight|Johto}}"
! Set
! Release year
! No. of cards
! Example 1
! Example 2
! Backside
|- style="background:#fff"
| Pokémon Merlin tattoos
| 2000
| 20 cards
| [[File:Pokemon Merlin - tattoos 8.jpg|120px]]
| [[File:Pokemon Merlin - tattoos 7.jpg|120px]]
| [[File:Pokemon Merlin - tattoos 7 backside.jpg|120px]]
|- style="background:#fff"
| Pokémon Merlin Advanced Pocket Collection
| 2003
| 222 mini cards
| [[File:Pokemon Merlin - mini album.jpg|120px]]
| [[File:Pokemon Merlin - mini sticker.jpg|120px]]
| [[File:Pokemon Merlin - mini sticker backside.jpg|120px]]
|- style="background:#fff"
| [[Pokémon Magic Message cards]] (10 year anniversary set)
| 2006
| 60 cards
| [[File:Magic message - rayquaza matched.jpg|120px]]
| [[File:Magic message - 44.jpg|120px]]
| [[File:Magic message - backside 44.jpg|120px]]
|}

{{Project Merchandise notice}}

[[Category:Merlin cards|*]]