Vintage 1973 Topps Kung Fu Bubble Gum Card Warner Bros, David Carradine, Collectable

Vintage 1973 Topps Kung Fu Bubble Gum Card Warner Bros, David Carradine, Collectable

Up for sale is a fantastic vintage lot of 29 "Kung Fu" non-sport trading cards released by Topps in 1973. This classic red-bordered set documents the legendary Warner Bros. television series starring David Carradine as Kwai Chang Caine!

The lot features an excellent array of action stills, Shaolin Temple flashbacks, Western showdowns, and martial arts combat photography. 

The Manufacturer

Released in 1973 by Topps Chewing Gum, these cards were sold in standard wax packs containing bubblegum. Because of the red border design, they are a massive favorite among nostalgic 1970s collectors.

The TV Show

Kung Fu aired on ABC from 1972 to 1975. It followed the adventures of Kwai Chang Caine (played by David Carradine), an orphaned Shaolin monk of American and Chinese descent.

The Plot & Legacy

After fleeing China, Caine travels through the American Old West armed only with his spiritual philosophy and deadly martial arts skills as he searches for his half-brother. The show famously popularized Eastern philosophy and martial arts in Western pop culture, paving the way for the Bruce Lee craze of the mid-1970s.

Running Order (Facing Front)

Top Isolated Pair (Left to Right)
Caine pouring liquid onto a fire
Caine standing outside with a man wearing a flat-brim hat

Second Row (Left to Right)
Caine walking along a horizon line with a staff
Close-up portrait of Caine looking left with a blue sky background
Young Caine (monk) talking to an elder at the Shaolin temple
Martial artist mid-kick or stance in an outdoor courtyard
A group of people practicing martial arts forms outdoors

Third Row (Left to Right)
Man in a cowboy hat looking at Caine indoors
Caine pointing a pistol outdoors
Caine performing a striking pose during a courtyard fight
Two fighters grappling or executing a throw close up
Close-up profile of a villainous cowboy looking right

Fourth Row (Left to Right)
Man in a wide-brim hat staring directly ahead out in the desert
Caine looking through a window frame or structural opening
Caine standing outdoors with people behind him in a forest/garden
Close-up vertical portrait of Caine inside a building looking right
Caine shirtless displaying a muscle stance outside

Fifth Row (Left to Right)
Two men standing in front of a wooden saloon/shack building
Caine blocking or deflecting a strike indoors
Caine engaging a fighter mid-air outdoors
Caine in close combat inside a saloon/room
Caine aiming a rifle outdoors alongside a horse/cart

Bottom Row (Left to Right)
Smiling profile close-up portrait of Caine
Shaolin Monk character in full robes standing outdoors
Caine shirtless executing a defensive block pose
Caine performing a dynamic hand strike pose outside
Shaolin Monk character standing outdoors (Duplicate)
Caine wielding a wooden staff or bo staff during combat training
Caine walking past rocks in the desert wearing a cowboy hat