"THE DIRTIES" FRENCH/FRANCE RELEASES
RELEASE
PERIOD — 1988 Les Crados were printed by the Topps Italy Co., and released throughout France. A total of two series, measuring 2 1/2 X 3 1/2 inches, that are non-die cut (peeling from the edges), were produced with some back variations. They have no 'PEEL HERE' arrows and were intended to be placed in accompanying sticker albums. The cards came 5 to a pack within a sealed paper wrapper. The product has a '1986' date, but this was the year in which 'The Garbage Gang' moniker was coin, or trademarked, during the OAA v. Topps lawsuit, and intented for the release international material (and/or if the Garbage Pail Kids name had to be updated).  The cards were released in 1988 after the success of the Garbage Pail Kids in the U.S. and the U.K. A 44 card 'a' variation "test set" was released in France and Belgium in 1986 with the Garbage Pail Kids title in English and the nomenclature and card-type in French (located within a different section on the website). 
CLICK PACK IMAGE TO VISIT THE SERIES SECTION The second installment of Les Crados was released in September of 2004 in the U.K., manufactured by Topps Europe Ltd., associated with Merlin Stickers and released throughout parts of northern Europe. The All New Series 1 Album set is found with the same 'gross green' color and marketed much like the ANS1 from the U.S., but contains images from the ANS1, ANS2, and various older U.S. GPK sets. The stickers measure slightly smaller than the U.S. cards at 2.5 x 3.5 inches.  PIF POCKET — ISSUE N° 293 — 100 GAMES, 100 GAGS, +100 "DIRTIES" (DIRTY) JOKES — ONLY 10 F Much like the Italian Sgorbions releases in the later 80's, there was a plethora of Les Crados items released during its Series 1 and Series 2 sticker-album fad days... including, but not limited to, a vinyl record single, t-shirts, magazines, etcetera. And, unlike the iconic OS1 ADAM Bomb mascot of the U.S., the OS8 Explorin' NORMAN character takes that spot for the international releases, and JORDAN Nuts is runner-up. 
 A magazine release in 2017 contained two pages of original Les Crados sticker images ("18 Crados Cards For You!"), a list of the "Top 20 of the Crados plus the Dirtiest", a drawing challenge "Competition: Draw Your Crados and Give it a Name!", a write up of the 80's art director Mark Newgarden, etcetera. Backside states, "In Your Magazine... Les Crados — Extra! 18 Collectible Cards — Find Other Crados Cards in the Next Issue!" Four additional issues would follow, released through 2019, including a bonus edition, and three poster magazines. |
