• A Callcard Collector is known as a "Fusilatelist"

• There were 2 IMI, (Irish Management Institute) Callcards sold in 1991, a 20 unit and a 50 unit. There was 250 of the 20 unit produced and 750 of the 50 unit produced. All the 50 unit cards were given out at an IMI conference held in Dublin in 1991, and that is why this card is rarer but due to a lot of media interest concerning the card many have resurfaced from filing cabinets etc, but are mainly in poor condition. A set of these cards in perfect condition can fetch up to £1,300+. Not all of the 20 unit were given out at the conference and the remainder were sold to the public for £3.50 each. This 20 unit IMI can now be sold for £400+.

• The other very rare Irish Callcard is the 100 Unit F.I.T.C.E.
  (Federation of International Telecommunication Engineers) cards. These were given out to the delegates attending a conference in Cork and were also sold in Dublin. This card is worth £350+.

• Telecom first issued Callcards in '88, these were magnetic strip cards and not the chip card we have today. The first chip Callcard was issued in April '90.

• A Global Chipcard Alliance phonecard pack went on sale on the 1st of April 1999 at 9am and was sold out by 11am.
  There was 7,000 of these packs produced worldwide with every one of the ten telecom companies involved receiving 700 each.

• Disney Callcards including Mulan, Hunchback of Notre dame, Pocahontas, Hercules and Aladdin are deemed collectable Callcards as all are either sold out or nearly sold out in the Callcard Collector's Club.

• The first phonecards appeared in Italy in 1976, in the UK in 1981 and in the USA as late as 1991.

• Phonecards are now available in more than 200 countries worldwide

• Unused phonecards tend to be the most valuable. However, one phonecard, found discarded in a Scottish payphone, was sold for £850.

• In Japan over 50% of phonecards produced are never used.

• Research conducted in France estimates that 20% of the population collect something. Collections range between stamps, coins, medals, phonecards (Telecartes as known in France) and pins to name but a few. The report also does on to say that 4 out of 5 collectors are men.

• Unused mint cards command a greater price, and obviously those cards with a lower production run or with an accidental error are more valuable than general issue cards.

• The most valuable card ever produced by British Telecom (BT), is now worth over £2,500 and marks a golf tournament held in Scotland.

Complied 1999 By Steven Hanley From Articles produced  by
"The Callcard Collectors Club" and the "BT Collectors Club"

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