Merlin Online is the web site of Topps Europe Ltd. Topps Europe is a subsidiary of The Topps Company Inc. and is an international marketer of entertainment products, principally sticker collections, collectible trading cards and confectionery.

Topps Europe was founded in 1989 as Merlin Publishing Ltd and quickly grew to become a major player in the European market for collectable stickers. By 1995, the company's progress was such that it won the prestigious Price Waterhouse/Independent on Sunday award for the fastest growing privately held British company.

Some of the best selling collections produced in this period include The Magic of Beano, Nintendo, World Wrestling Entertainment Superstars, Gladiators, Street Fighter II, Jurassic Park, Batman and Power Rangers. The company's official Premier League football collection won rave reviews when it was launched in 1994 and has become, annually, the world's best selling sticker collection.

In 1995 The Topps Company Inc. acquired Merlin Publishing giving Topps a larger global presence, particularly in Europe, and a new format for bringing valuable properties to collectors and fans. Merlin Publishing became Topps Europe Ltd, but the name 'Merlin' was retained as a brand name because it was widely recognised by consumers.

The Topps Company Inc. was founded in 1938 as a confectionery company, which still forms an important part of the company's business with popular brands such as Bazooka, Ring Pop and Push Pop. However Topps is now best known for it's trading cards - in the fields of sport and entertainment.

In 1951 Topps created the first modern day sports trading card set and has continued to set the standard for quality and innovation to the present day. Starting in 1950's with entertainment cards for Elvis Presley and The Beatles then Charlie's Angels, E.T. and Batman to the present day collections for The X-Files, Pokémon and Star Wars, Topps have published some of the top contemporary entertainment properties.

Now headquartered in New York City, the company has worldwide distribution, annual revenues of over $260 million and employs over 300 people worldwide.