From initially submitting a proposal to the publisher, it took just a further 10 months to see my first book about Panini stickers – ‘Stuck On You’ - land on bookshelves.
By the time ‘Panini Football Stickers: The Official Celebration’ was published in November 2021, it was just over four years since my initial enquiry to Bloomsbury. As Commissioning Editor Matt Lowing has since told me once or twice: ‘Welcome to the world of licensed publishing!’. My first email to Matt was fired off in October 2017, a month before ‘Stuck On You’ was turned into a well-received, and oft-repeated, ITV documentary. Panini stickers were hot at the time so a further book on the subject – this time more image-led – seemed like a winner.
As it transpired, the process would take a lot longer than my first effort, but the timing – to fit in with Panini’s 60th birthday – was ultimately perfect.
The world of football stickers changed significantly since I first pitched the idea, with the global pandemic sending lapsed collectors scurrying to their lofts and attics to reacquaint themselves with potential hidden treasure. While many have embarked on new adventures to complete Panini albums started decades ago, others are looking to find loose stickers that could be worth hundreds or, in some cases, thousands of pounds. When a Diego Maradona Panini sticker from 1979 fetched $555,960 at an auction in the USA in April 2021, it was clear the collecting landscape had changed.
