For years now, autographed books coming direct from the publishers -- or direct from the authors themselves -- have been an affordable way to collect ink from notable names in all realms of pop culture.

It's not a perfect system with stamps, fakes and autopens sometimes in the mix -- a problem for publishers to catch as they are not authenticators -- but thanks to dedicated collectors on the Blowout Cards Forum and elsewhere, those problems often get caught and fixed ... or at least become well-known enough to avoid if it's an issue that goes uncorrected.

Getting ink in-person is always best -- book tours still happen, of course -- but landing autographed editions from publishers, online sellers or celebs themselves via their websites or other appearances are common. So, with that said, here's the first of what just might become a monthly department here on The Buzz for this new year

Our first subject and autograph to start this series? Basketball Hall of Famer Kareem Abdul-Jabbar.

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2006-07 Press Pass Legends basketball cards (hobby hanger box)
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com (when available)

Packs per box: 12
Cards per pack: 4
Cards per box: 48
Base set completion: 28 of 70 (40 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Notable players on base cards – Sue Bird, Sleepy Floyd, Dominique Wilkins, Hakeem Olajuwon, Isiah Thomas, Connie Hawkins, Danny Manning, JoJo White, Dan Issel, Wes Unseld, Spud Webb, Walt Frazier, Bernard King, Bill Walton, Dean Smith, Digger Phelps

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Do you like Buzz Breaks? Today's your day then as we launch 12 in 12 -- a series of a dozen breaks of past wax boxes and wax packs in a dozen hours. We'll post one every hour on the hour all day long today ... this is Hour 8.

The box: 2008 Donruss Americana II blaster
The cost: BlowoutCards.com

What's inside this one? Keep reading ...

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If you hadn't noticed, there are a number of boxes with discounted prices right now over on the mothership as BlowoutCards.com is in the midst its Black November sales now.

Wave 5 is here and many of the discounts were dramatic enough that Buzz had to sit down and ponder the possibilities in many of the boxes and cases -- and here are five boxes/cases that caught this collector’s eye. (And this wave was so big that there could easily be five more ... check it out.)

2016 Panini Absolute Football retail Premium Box
At this sale price, this one is definitely worth checking out since last year's rookie crop is stacked and this one includes two exclusive hits -- one blue auto and one blue memorabilia card -- in every box. This one is a simple retail take on a memorabilia-focused favorite of mine and there could be even more retail-only colors found in boxes, too. If those are big names such as Dak Prescott or Ezekiel Elliott -- or any of the other newcomers that are making a mark -- you're way ahead with this price. Either way, it's a fun rip -- and you can grab it by the case, too. 

Keep reading for a few more picks among this newest wave.

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From time to time, Buzz will break a box of something and post the results here. Like this and want to see more? Or maybe there's a box you'd want to see busted? Send Buzz an email at BlowoutBuzz@blowoutcards.com.

The box: 2008 Donruss Americana Celebrity Cuts
Where to buy: BlowoutCards.com

Packs per box: 1
Cards per pack: 6
Cards in this box: 6
Base set completion: 
3 of 100 (3 percent)
Duplicates: 0

Base cards (3) – Ashley Judd, John Wooden, Ron Howard

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