The Drool Gallery: 2010 Panini Plates & Patches Football (Part 1 of 2)

Judging by the buzz reverberating about the collecting community these days, I’m not the only one harboring high hopes for 2010 Panini Plates & Patches Football, the brand new high-end hit parade due out everywhere next week. To be sure, there are reasons aplenty to believe this product will be a monster.

The poignant, head-turning new product will strive to deliver significant value in every $150 pack by including one prime-piece memorabilia autographed Rookie Card, two additional autographs and a fourth hit (either a fourth autograph or a memorabilia card) in addition to a pair of base cards, one parallel and one insert card.

Prior to today, everything I’d seen of Plates & Patches so far had exceeded lofty expectations. When I finally got real cards in my hand this afternoon (compliments of Stephanie Carlson, Panini America‘s VP of Production who was fresh from a quality-control check), I spent a good chunk of the next hour just soaking it all in.

Here’s betting you’ll do the same starting . . . now:

Be sure to come back tomorow for the can’t-miss conclusion of this gallery, including a look at the product’s stunning use of printing plates.