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Leaf

Leaf is a vintage baseball brand revived as a modern autograph and prospect card maker.

1948–present United States Dallas, Texas, USA
Sports cardsEntertainment & non-sportBaseballFootballBasketballRacing
Image gallery (6) Pre-grade a card
2022 Leaf Metal Draft Khalil Shakir 25/40 Autograph Football Card
2022 Leaf Metal Draft Khalil Shakir 25/40 Autograph Football Card

Leaf at a glance

Leaf is a vintage baseball brand revived as a modern autograph and prospect card maker.

Full history, sources and grading notes below. Last verified · Published · Confidence: Medium

Company history

The 1948-49 sets[1][2]

Leaf issued its first baseball set in 1948, competing with Bowman in the early post-war market. The 1948 and 1949 Leaf sets are scarce compared with later Topps production and include important rookie and star cards. The original brand did not survive the 1950s consolidation.

The modern revival[2][3]

The Leaf name was revived for modern trading cards, initially in entertainment and later in sports. Modern Leaf products focus on autographs, prospects and low-print parallels, and the brand operates as Leaf Trading Cards. Vintage Leaf remains a separate, much rarer collecting market.

Timeline

Dated milestones with a source for each event. Hover a marker for the short label; the list below carries the detail.

Leaf timeline
Leaf timelineDated milestones in the history of Leaf.1948: First Leaf setFirst Leaf set19481949: Final vintage setFinal vintage set19492010: Modern revivalModern revival20102012: Leaf MetalLeaf Metal2012
View timeline events
YearEventDetail
1948First Leaf setLeaf issues its first baseball card set.
1949Final vintage setThe 1949 Leaf set is the last of the original run.
2010Modern revivalThe Leaf name returns on modern trading cards.
2012Leaf MetalLeaf Metal becomes a modern autograph/prospect line.
  1. 1948
    First Leaf set[1]

    Leaf issues its first baseball card set.

  2. 1949
    Final vintage set[2]

    The 1949 Leaf set is the last of the original run.

  3. 2010
    Modern revival[3]

    The Leaf name returns on modern trading cards.

  4. 2012
    Leaf Metal[3]

    Leaf Metal becomes a modern autograph/prospect line.

Brand identity

Image archive

Local, provenance-recorded images. Captions and source credits are part of the record; a missing section is shown as an explicit gap rather than filled with a placeholder.

Card fronts & backs

Open the full gallery →
2022 Leaf Metal Draft Khalil Shakir 25/40 Autograph Football Card
Card fronts · 20222022 Leaf Metal Draft Khalil Shakir 25/40 Autograph Football CardeBay listing image
Ja'corey Brooks 2022 Leaf Metal Draft Green Football Card Autograph 4/10 BA-JCB
Card fronts · 2022Ja'corey Brooks 2022 Leaf Metal Draft Green Football Card Autograph 4/10 BA-JCBeBay listing image
Leaf 2022 Metal Draft Malik Willis Liberty Flames #B-MW1 Rookie Football Card — reverse.
Card backs · 2022Leaf 2022 Metal Draft Malik Willis Liberty Flames #B-MW1 Rookie Football Card — reverse.eBay listing image
2022 Leaf Metal Draft Bound Kenneth Walker III Autograph 4/5 Football Card — reverse.
Card backs · 20222022 Leaf Metal Draft Bound Kenneth Walker III Autograph 4/5 Football Card — reverse.eBay listing image
Leaf 2022 Metal Draft Malik Willis Liberty Flames #B-MW1 Rookie Football Card
Card fronts · 2022Leaf 2022 Metal Draft Malik Willis Liberty Flames #B-MW1 Rookie Football CardeBay listing image

Notable sets

Notable sets
YearSetWhy it mattersSource
19481948 Leaf BaseballA key early post-war set and the brand’s vintage anchor.[2]
20122012 Leaf MetalA modern autograph-focused revival product.[3]

Grading notes

How this manufacturer's stock, cutting and production method affect the four grading pillars.

Vintage scarcity[2]

1948-49 Leaf cards are scarce and condition-sensitive; centring and corner wear are common.

Modern autographs[3]

Modern Leaf autograph cards are thick and prone to edge wear; check the signature and corners.

How to identify Leaf cards

1948-1949[1]

The Leaf name and copyright appear on the back; vintage Leaf cards are scarce and use a distinct design.

Modern[1]

Modern Leaf cards carry Leaf Trading Cards branding and often an on-card autograph or low serial number.

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Frequently asked questions

When did Leaf start making cards?

Leaf began issuing cards in 1948.

Who owns Leaf now?

Leaf operates independently or under its current ownership.

What is Leaf known for?

Leaf is a vintage baseball brand revived as a modern autograph and prospect card maker.

Sources & methodology

Every factual claim in the profile is tied to the numbered sources below. Translated sources are tagged with their original language. Media provenance is recorded per image; images are stored locally and credited to their source.

  1. Wikipedia: Leaf (company) (accessed 2026-11-07 · EN)
  2. PSA CardFacts: 1948 Leaf (accessed 2026-11-07 · EN)
  3. Leaf Trading Cards (accessed 2026-11-07 · EN)

Unverified or incomplete

  • Text-first draft; media, design evolution and people/place sections are pending.

Cite this profile

PreGradeCards Research. “Leaf.” Card Manufacturers Directory. Last verified 2026-11-07. https://pregradecards.com/manufacturers/leaf

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