| turbovr6 |
11-19-2002 04:12 PM |
9/11 trading cards to go on sale for holidays-----------------------------
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Controversial trading cards featuring people and issues related to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks could reach retailers some time between Thanksgiving and Christmas, according to their manufacturer.
Some victims' families and firefighter organizations have criticized the cards honoring "Heroes of the World Trade Center" as capitalizing on the tragedy.
Kingsley Barham, publisher of Chesnut Publications in Florida and creator of the cards, said that retailers have not yet been approached. The first packages of cards will go to distributors just after Thanksgiving.
The manager of New York's St. Mark's Comics, which sells a variety of cards, said the store had reservations about the cards but would probably carry them and let customers decide.
Major retailers such as Target and Toys "R" Us had not yet seen the cards.
Of the 202 cards, 170 focus on people, mostly victims of the attack, rescue workers, volunteers and prominent figures. The rest focus on subjects such as memorials that were erected following the terrorist attacks or last year's anthrax scare.
Barham said every word on the cards was approved by a family member.
"I had no obligation to do that, but I've done that and also had them sign releases, and I'm donating some of the profits to the families," he said.
Barham said he also is donating some of the cards to schools for educational purposes.
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