Bloomsbury nets 60th anniversary history of Panini football stickers

Bloomsbury Sport has netted The Official Celebration: A Nostalgic Journey Through the World of Panini by Greg Lansdowne, to be released in celebration of the brand's 60th anniversary.

This year marks the 60th anniversary of the launch of Panini’s football sticker collections, and, for the first time, the company has granted access to its archives for a book. Licensed by Panini and written by sticker authority Lansdowne, the volume showcases Panini's UK domestic football, FIFA World Cup and UEFA European Championship albums, as well as featuring all the big clubs and famous players, from Pelé and Maradona to Marta, Ronaldo and Mbappé.

The synopsis explains: "The heady mix of football history and modern-day action will delight collectors of all ages and exemplifies why, for the last 60 years, collecting Panini stickers has been—and remains—a global phenomenon."

Matthew Lowing, commissioning editor at Bloomsbury Sport, acquired world all language rights for the book. It will publish on 25th November in hardback

Lansdowne said: "Having collected my first Panini football sticker album in 1979 it is a huge honour to have written this book in collaboration with Panini and Bloomsbury. Panini football stickers have touched the hearts and minds of millions over the last 60 years so this celebration is certain to bring a warm feeling to generations of collectors.”

Lowing commented: “It is a publisher’s dream to be partnering with Panini for this hugely exciting project. It is the first time Panini has granted access to their archives, and the richly illustrated book is a joyous, nostalgia-filled celebration of Panini and football sticker culture."

Peter Warsop, licensing director, said “When Greg reports of his first foray into sticker collecting in 1979 it was me who was selling them to him as it was also my own first year of association with Panini. It was a great introduction for both of us, even though we were at opposite ends of the supply chain. The wonderful thing is that those great nostalgic moments have been shared with so many families around the entire world—one big, happy global Panini family of collectors both young and old.”