Zach Parise Emerald Autograph /5 from 2011-12 Certified

This may be just one card, but it could have been more. From 2011-12 Certified, is an autographed emerald parallel of Zach Parise's base card, numbered 3/5.

I say that this could have been more, because the Ebay seller actually had THREE of these (3/5, 4/5, & 5/5), and they were all ending at around the same time. I had to work when they were set to end, so I was left with the unenviable task of posting a maximum bid and hoping for the best. As luck would have it, I ended up with only one, but really, that's all that I think I need. Plus, I had a few other collecting items to save up for, so I'm better off this way.

Zach Parise Brilliance Autograph from 2013-14 The Cup

Next in line for my Zach Parise Collection additions, is this gem from 2013-14 The Cup's Brilliance insert set.

I've seen these cards for quite a while, and have been waiting to get my hands on one. It's essentially a shadowbox card. The centerpiece is a logo of The Cup, embedded to the background with a rainbowy silver foil. On the overlay, you have a clear acetate surface to let you see into the background, with gives the signature a really cool raised look. The most striking thing about the card, however, is simply the mass of it. I wouldn't imagine that a card with no piece of rare memorabilia could be this thick, but it is done that way to give the logo a good amount of depth beneath the signature. In fact, the card is so thick, that I was able to measure it with a tape measure (3/8"). That may not seem like a big number right off the bat, but for a hockey card, trust me, it is.