In 1977, Topps released the first ever Star Wars trading cards to coincide with the release of the original Star Wars film, which was an immediate success. The cards featured images from the film along with small character bios on the back of each card. Though they were technically referred to as trading cards, they contained no stats or other baseball card elements, though Topps had made their name producing baseball cards. The cards were part of Topps’ broader expansion into other popular film and television licenses of the time as a way to reach new audiences.
The original Star Wars film release in May 1977 was a massive hit, surprising even executive producer George Lucas with just how popular it became. Looking to capitalize on the sudden Star Wars craze, Topps signed a deal with 20th Century Fox to produce a series of trading cards centered around the characters, vehicles, and locations from the film. The card series featured 64 total cards which showcased film stills from Star Wars along with some concept art that did not make the final cut. Given the tight film production schedule, Topps actually had to work very quickly assembling the artwork and information for the cards to have them ready for wide distribution that summer.
On the back of each card was a small write-up with some details about what was shown on the front, though many of the card bios contained minor factual errors or were altered from what was depicted in the finished film. For example, Luke Skywalker’s card lists his home planet as Mars, rather than Tatooine. These types of small inconsistencies were overlooked by collectors at the time given the rush to capitalize on the new franchise. The cards originally retailed for 10 cents per pack with gum, following Topps’ standard baseball card model of the era. They were sold in stores across North America beginning in June 1977 as demand for Star Wars merchandise skyrocketed.
Though marketed as trading cards at the time to fit with Topps’ established product lines, the 1977 Star Wars cards broke the mold by not containing any traditional baseball card stats or information on the back. This made them collectors items in their own right and helped contribute to the overall popularity of science fiction and genre film trading cards that would follow. While the cards featured stills and concept art approved by Lucasfilm, the rushed timeline led to some inconsistencies. Fans and collectors were so hungry for anything Star Wars related that these minor errors were overlooked in favor of possessing tangible pieces of the blockbuster new film universe.
In the weeks and months after the Star Wars film’s release, the trading cards became some of the hardest Star Wars merchandise to track down as demand vastly outstripped initial supply. Finding unopened packs for retail price grew increasingly difficult, driving many collectors to start searching garage sales, comic shops, or writing to Topps directly asking to purchase more packs. Within the first year, the cards increased greatly in aftermarket value on the fledgling collector’s market. By the 1980s, complete unopened sets routinely sold for hundreds of dollars or more depending on condition. This extreme growth in value added to the cards’ mystique and status as some of the most prized Star Wars collectibles.
As part of the cards’ appeal, Topps also issued other Star Wars related trading cards through the late 1970s and into the 1980s as the franchise continued to expand. These included a 1979 Return of the Jedi set ahead of that film and inserts mixed into random 1980s card packages. Perhaps most notably, Topps produced the first ever full color artwork cards for Star Wars figures and scenes as inserts mixed into some 1980 and 1981 packs, long before modern base card illustrations. These early experimental color cards are now exceptionally rare and valuable. Topps also provided exclusives to mail-away offers and promotions to help drive customers to new Star Wars films in theatres.
While Topps lost the Star Wars card license in later years, its 1977 line continued to grow in prestige and desirability. Complete collector sets are highly sought after and routinely sell at auction for thousands or tens of thousands of dollars depending on condition. Even damaged single cards lacking protective sleeves frequently fetch hundreds on auction websites. In mint condition, especially notable or rare cards carry estimates into the tens of thousands or more. The Star Wars franchise boom of the late 1970s cemented Topps as the premier trading card company of that era and established Star Wars as endlessly collectible across toylines and memorabilia categories. Though basic by today’s standards, the original 1977 series kicked off over four decades of Star Wars licensed products influence on popular culture.
In many ways, the success of Topps’ 1977 Star Wars trading card launch directly led to the boom in science fiction, horror, and other genre film/television card lines that sprung up through the late 1970s and early 1980s. Suddenly, hit movies of all types had associated cards and collections to help bolster fandom. While the first Star Wars cards contained no stats, their simple visual format went on to inspire modern storytelling, character art, and behind-the-scenes information focused card types still seen today across various franchises. Even for casual fans, the 1977 Topps Star Wars set left an indelible mark as one of the ultimate vintage collectibles embodying that magical period when Star Wars first captured global audiences. They remain among the true starting points for both modern movie/TV memorabilia and the franchised card collectibles industry.
