1977 Topps Star Wars Series 1: A Collector's Guide

Where Star Wars collecting on cardboard began: 66 blue-bordered cards and 11 stickers.

When Star Wars opened in May 1977, nobody, including the toy companies, was ready for it. Topps was. Its first Star Wars series, known to collectors by its blue starfield borders, put the movie into wax packs that summer and started a run of five series in 1977 and 1978. Series 1 is the set that started it all, and the one every vintage Star Wars collector eventually comes back to.

The Set at a Glance

• Cards: 66, plus 11 stickers.

• Borders: Blue, with a starfield design. That's why collectors call it the "Blue" series.

• Branding: The 20th Century Fox logo appears rather than a Topps logo, although Topps produced the cards.

• Packs: Seven cards, one sticker and a stick of gum, with 36 packs to a box. The wrapper and box featured C-3PO.

The five 1977–78 Topps series are known by border color: blue, red, yellow, green and orange. Series 1 is the blue set.

The Backs: Facts and a Puzzle

The backs combine movie facts with puzzle pieces. Assembled, they recreate the classic Star Wars poster art by brothers Greg and Tim Hildebrandt. As with the 1966 Batman puzzle backs, the puzzle is a handy way to check a set for completeness.

Key Cards

The set opens with character profile cards, and those are the singles that sell first:

• #1 Luke Skywalker. The first card in the set, the first Star Wars trading card, and the key to a high-grade set.

• #2 See-Threepio and Artoo-Detoo.

• #4 Space Pirate Han Solo.

• #5 Princess Leia Organa.

• #6 Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi.

• #7 The Villainous Darth Vader.

• #8 Grand Moff Tarkin.

Collectors also look for scene cards such as #52 "Who Will Win the Final Star War?" and #66 Amazing Robot See-Threepio, the last card in the set.

The Stickers

One sticker came in each pack. The 11 Series 1 stickers feature Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, Darth Vader, Tarkin, Ben Kenobi, a Tusken Raider and an X-wing versus TIE Fighter scene. Their thick black borders make them more condition-sensitive than the cards. Every chip and corner touch shows. A complete set "with stickers" means all 77 pieces, so check that a listing includes them.

The Star on the Back

Some Series 1 cards carry a small star on the back. For years, collectors took it as a sign of an early or limited printing. It actually marks whether the card was printed on the A or B side of the uncut sheet. It's an interesting detail for master-set collectors, but not a scarcity marker.

Why High Grades Are Hard

Series 1 wasn't printed in small numbers, and singles in average condition remain easy to find. High grades are another story. These cards were opened in huge numbers, traded, carried in pockets, stuck on lunchboxes and flipped. Few survived in excellent shape. That's why Series 1 is often described as the hardest Star Wars series to complete in top condition.

Inspect for:

• Chipping on the blue borders, which shows as white against the dark starfield.

• Centering. 1970s Topps cutting was inconsistent.

• Print defects such as dots, roller lines and soft focus.

• Gum stains on the backs.

• Sticker edge wear and lifted or used stickers.

International Versions

O-Pee-Chee issued Star Wars cards in Canada, and other countries had their own versions. Confirm the issuer on the back if you're building a U.S. Topps set, or embrace the variations as a separate collecting lane.

Building the Set

Lock in #1 and the character cards. They carry most of the value, and high-grade copies are competitive.

Decide on stickers. Building a 66-card set and a 77-piece set with stickers are different projects. Plan for the stickers from the start if you want them.

Prioritize eye appeal. Well-centered cards with clean blue borders look dramatically better in a binder or frame.

Grade the keys. For #1 and the character profile cards in strong condition, grading adds authentication and liquidity. Most scene cards can stay raw.

Wax Packs, Boxes and Sealed Material

Unopened Series 1 material is collected in its own right. Wax packs, display boxes and wrappers featuring C-3PO all have dedicated collectors. Sealed vintage wax carries real fraud risk, because resealed packs and searched boxes exist. For any significant sealed purchase, buy material authenticated by a recognized service, such as Baseball Card Exchange (BBCE) for boxes, or graded packs from a major grader. Empty boxes and wrappers are an affordable way to add packaging history to a set display.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cards are in 1977 Topps Star Wars Series 1?

Sixty-six cards plus 11 stickers, for 77 pieces in total.

What's the key card in Series 1?

Card #1, Luke Skywalker, is the set's key and the first Star Wars trading card.

Does the star on the back make a card rarer?

No. It shows which side of the printing sheet the card came from. It isn't a rarity indicator.

How many series did Topps make in 1977–78?

Five, each identified by border color: blue, red, yellow, green and orange. Series 1 is the blue set.

Shop Vintage Star Wars at Crafted TCG

Browse 1977 Topps Star Wars cards, stickers and sealed wax at CraftedTCG.com. Every listing shows the front and back.