May The Cards Be With You

In late-May of 1977, Star Wars-mania took the world by storm, captivating audiences who couldn’t get enough of Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca, and Darth Vader. Even young collectors who had never considered non-sports cards were drawn to the deep-blue, starry-bordered designs of the first Topps Star Wars trading cards series, which have remained a staple in the hobby ever since.

In celebration of Star Wars Day — May the 4th (Be With You) — and the anniversary of the movie’s release on May 25th, here’s a curated list of the most collected vintage Star Wars North American cards from A New Hope (1977), The Empire Strikes Back (1980), and Return of the Jedi (1983).

1977 Topps Star Wars #1 Luke Skywalker

The defining card of vintage Star Wars trading cards, card #1 from the inaugural Star Wars set features a timeless image of Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker. As the first card in the series, it was particularly vulnerable to damage, as young collectors often secured their card stacks with rubber bands, causing wear to both the first and last cards. This susceptibility was further exacerbated by the deep blue borders of the Series 1 cards, which made imperfections more noticeable. A Gem Mint PSA 10 copy of this card (population of 9) set a record sale price of $78,000 USD in November 2023. The Canadian O-Pee-Chee version of this set is even rarer and more condition-sensitive.

5,620 copies of this card have been graded by the four major card graders, with the highest grades being nine PSA 10s, two SGC 9.5s, two BGS 9s and three CGC 8.5s.

1977 Topps Star Wars #7 The Villainous Darth Vader

Widely regarded as the second-most desirable base card in the set, the first Darth Vader card remains a favorite among collectors. As one of the most iconic villains in cinema history, Vader captivates fans with his menacing voice and imposing black armor. High-grade Mint and Gem Mint copies of this card rarely surface, but when they do, competition among collectors is intense.

1,504 copies of this card have been graded by the four major card graders, with the highest grades being five PSA 10s, one SGC 10, one BGS 8.5 and one CGC 8.5.

1977 Topps Star Wars #207 C-3PO Anthony Daniels (Goldenrod Error)

The infamous “Goldenrod” error card became notorious due to an optical illusion that made it appear as though C-3PO had an unintended phallic metallic addition. Some believe it was a lighting mishap, while others suspect a prank, but actor Anthony Daniels explained that oil may have dissolved the adhesive on his costume, causing a crease that exaggerated the effect. After the release of the card in the green-bordered Series 4, concerned parents prompted Topps to alter the image, making the corrected version rarer, though the original remains much more desirable. Today, both versions are highly sought after by collectors, cementing this card as one of the most legendary errors in trading card history.

2,977 copies of the error card have been graded by the four major card graders, with the highest grades being five PSA 10s, three SGC 9s, two BGS 9s and one CGC 9.

1,032 copies of the corrected card have been graded by the four major card graders, with the highest grades being 12 PSA 10s, one SGC 9, one BGS 8.5 and two CGC 8.5s.

1977 Topps Star Wars Stickers #1 Luke Skywalker

The card features a bold, vibrant design with a close-up image of Luke, framed by a thick green outline and dark background. The sticker-style card captures a classic 1970s aesthetic adding to its appeal. If you are looking for a serious collecting challenge, set yourself on a mission to hunt down a Mint or Gem Mint copy. With borders blacker than the dark side and persistent centering issues, only 16 copies submitted to PSA have received a Mint or Gem Mint grade. The only Gem Mint PSA 10 copy of this card (yes, a population of one) set a record sale price of $57,600 USD in November 2023.

1,316 copies of this card have been graded by the four major card graders, with the highest grades being one PSA 10, seven SGC 8s, one BGS 8.5 and two CGC 8s.

1977 Topps Star Wars #5 Princess Leia Organa

The #5 Princess Leia card, part of the blue-bordered Series 1, showcases a strong image of Carrie Fisher as Leia, capturing her signature intensity and determination. As one of the earliest collectibles featuring the character, it carries both historical and nostalgic value for fans and collectors alike. Like many of the low-numbered Series 1 cards, mint copies are especially rare. Since these cards were frequently handled casually by youngsters in 1977, finding a mint-condition example is extremely difficult, with only 16 copies achieving Gem Mint status across the four major grading companies.

1,997 copies of this card have been graded by the four major card graders, with the highest grades being 15 PSA 10s, one SGC 10, two BGS 8.5s and three CGC 8.5s.

1977 Topps Star Wars #4 Space Pirate Han Solo

Han Solo, everyone’s favorite space scoundrel, makes his first trading card appearance on card #4 in the 1977 Topps Star Wars set. At the time of the film’s release, Harrison Ford was just emerging as a Hollywood star, and this iconic image of the galaxy’s best pilot remains a top-tier collectible among Star Wars fans. The card’s title, “Space Pirate,” perfectly captures his rogue charm, making it one of the most distinctive character cards in the set. Like many from this series, finding a high-grade copy is a challenge, with only 11 PSA-graded copies reaching Gem Mint status across all major grading companies.

1,469 copies of this card have been graded by the four major card graders, with the highest grades being 11 PSA 10s, one SGC 10 Pristine, four BGS 8s and five CGC 8.5s.

1980 Topps Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back #11 Boba Fett

The #11 Boba Fett is one of the key cards from Series 1 of the Empire Strikes Back Topps card set, showcasing the legendary and mysterious bounty hunter in his original trilogy debut. Even though he only had 6 minutes and 32 seconds of screen time, Fett made a lasting impression with viewers with his composed demeanor and distinctive armor. Part of the Star File subset, the card highlights characters and character details (like height, weight and birthplace) from the film with a bold red image frame and grey and white borders. Printing inconsistencies and the overall age of the set make high-grade copies difficult to find, with only ten Gem Mint PSA 10 examples known to exist. Like the original 1977 Star Wars sets, Canadian O-Pee-Chee versions were produced in smaller quantities, with even more production issues. Interest in all versions of this card surged after the release of The Mandalorian and The Book of Boba Fett on Disney+. While values have since stabilized, they remain significantly higher than pre-series-release prices.

1,109 copies of this card have been graded by the four major card graders, with the highest grades being ten PSA 10s, two SGC 9s, one BGS 9 and three CGC 9s.

1977 Wonder Bread Star Wars #1 Luke Skywalker

The 1977 Wonder Bread Star Wars card set is unique in that it was distributed with Wonder Bread loaves in limited quantities, making it much harder to find than the Topps Star Wars cards. The set consists of 16 cards, each with a black border, a full-color image of a character or vehicle, and a yellow nameplate at the bottom. Since collectors could only obtain one card per loaf, completing a full set was challenging, though a mail-in promotion offered an alternative way to receive all 16 at once. The Luke Skywalker #1 card is generally the most sought-after in the series, but four other cards have notably low populations in Mint and Gem Mint grades: Grand Moff Tarkin (#6), Jawas (#10), Tusken Raiders (#11), and Stormtroopers (#12).

1,513 copies of this card have been graded by the four major card graders, with the highest grades being 67 PSA 10s, two SGC 9s, one BGS 9.5s (Gem) and three CGC 8s.

1980 Topps Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back #9 Yoda

The 1980 Empire Strikes Back set features one of its most significant first appearances: Jedi Grand Master Yoda. Voiced by the legendary Frank Oz in the film, Yoda quickly became a fan favorite with his philosophical wisdom, unique speech pattern, and mastery of the Force. His teachings — especially those shared with Luke Skywalker on Dagobah — have become iconic, with quotes like “Do or do not, there is no try” transcending Star Wars itself. His popularity elevated with the introduction of Grogu (Baby Yoda) in The Mandalorian series. Like the #11 Boba Fett card from the same set, Mint and Gem Mint copies of Yoda’s #9 Star File card are highly sought after. Mint 9 copies typically sell in the $200-$250 range, while rare Gem Mint examples can fetch up to $2,000+.

724 copies of this card have been graded by the four major card graders, with the highest grades being four PSA 10s, two SGC 9s, four BGS 8.5s and one CGC 9.

1977 Wonder Bread Star Wars #6 Grand Moff Tarkin, #10 Jawas, #11 Tusken Raiders, #12 Stormtroopers

As mentioned earlier with the 1977 Wonder Bread Luke Skywalker card, there are four hidden gems (pun intended) in this 16-card set: Grand Moff Tarkin, Jawas, Tusken Raiders, and Stormtroopers. While these characters may not be the most celebrated in the Star Wars universe, their high-grade cards are among the most sought-after, with demand surpassing many fan-favorite selections. So, what makes these cards so rare? Were they short-printed? No — but it’s widely believed that their positioning on the printing sheet led to a high number of off-centered copies, making well-centered, high-grade examples especially difficult to find.

940 copies of the #6 Grand Moff Tarkin have been graded by the four major card graders, with the highest grades being 20 PSA 10s, eight SGC 9s, three BGS 9s and one CGC 9.

861 copies of the #10 Jawas have been graded by the four major card graders, with the highest grades being 8 PSA 10s, one SGC 10, two BGS 9s and two CGC 10s (Pristine).

834 copies of the #11 Tusken Raiders have been graded by the four major card graders, with the highest grades being 21 PSA 10s, one SGC 9, two BGS 8.5s and one CGC 8.5.

803 copies of the #12 Stormtroopers have been graded by the four major card graders, with the highest grades being 12 PSA 10s, one SGC 9, one BGS 8 and one CGC 9.

1977 Topps Star Wars Stickers #7 Lord Darth Vader

The Sticker #7 of the notorious Lord Darth Vader is notoriously difficult to find in high-grade condition, much like the Luke Skywalker Sticker #1 from the same insert series. Common flaws such as chipping due to dark borders, centering issues, surface damage and gum stains make Mint or better copies exceptionally rare and highly desirable among collectors. Despite these challenges, the bold orange frame and close-up image of the menacing Sith Lord create an eye-catching design, reinforcing its appeal in the vintage Star Wars card market.

1,059 copies of this card have been graded by the four major card graders, with the highest grades being three PSA 10s, one SGC 9, three BGS 8s and one CGC 8.5.

1977 Topps Star Wars Stickers #3 Han Solo

Han Solo’s daring adventures, sharp wit, and roguish charm have cemented his place as one of the most iconic characters in the Star Wars universe. His journey from a self-interested smuggler to a hero of the Rebel Alliance adds compelling depth to his story. The #3 Han Solo sticker showcases a dynamic close-up action shot, framed in green against a star-speckled black background for maximum visual impact. Like the Vader and Luke stickers from the same insert set, it is notoriously difficult to find in top condition due to frequent production imperfections.

849 copies of this card have been graded by the four major card graders, with the highest grades being one PSA 10, one SGC 9, four BGS 7s and one CGC 8.5.

1977 Wonder Bread Star Wars #5 Darth Vader

This next dark-bordered Darth Vader card is one of the most challenging to grade in the 1977 Wonder Bread set, making it especially sought after by collectors. It ranks as the third-most coveted Darth Vader card from 1977, prized for its relative scarcity and grading difficulty. With only 29 Gem Mint copies certified across the four major grading companies, its rarity ensures it will remain a collector favorite for years to come.

1,514 copies of this card have been graded by the four major card graders, with the highest grades being 29 PSA 10s, two SGC 9.5s, four BGS 9s and one CGC 9.

1983 Topps Star Wars: Return of the Jedi Stickers #49 Slave Girl Leia

This sticker card is part of the 1983 Return of the Jedi Series 2 sticker insert set. The image features Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia in her slave outfit, when Leia is held captive by Jabba the Hutt. As with most Topps products at the time, the sticker set was inserted in wax pack boxes, with each pack containing one sticker and several base cards. The card/sticker is marred by consistent centering issues, making Mint or Gem Mint grades tricky (but not impossible) to attain. To date, only 21 Gem Mint copies have been graded (all by PSA). Over the years, this card has seen increasing collector demand, both for its portrayal of Leia in her iconic costume and its connection to one of the most memorable scenes in Return of the Jedi. In 2016, a Gem Mint copy could be acquired for $20-$30, but today, that same card commands prices in the $300 range, reflecting its growing prestige in the hobby.

89 copies of this card have been graded by the four major card graders, with the highest grades being 21 PSA 10s, one SGC 8.5, one BGS 8.5 and two CGC 9.5s (Mint+).

1977 Topps Star Wars #321 George Lucas directs his counterpart “Luke”

No Star Wars card list would be complete without George Lucas, the visionary creator of the saga. While earlier cards in the set feature Lucas, this one stands out among collectors, as it captures him directing Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker — offering a rare behind-the-scenes glimpse into the filmmaking process. This card serves as a tribute to Lucas’ creative genius, showcasing a moment where he actively shaped the performance of the saga’s central hero. As part of Series 5, it was produced in lower quantities compared to cards from Series 1 to 4, making high-grade copies more difficult to find. This card has seen a notable increase in attention in recent years.

251 copies of this card have been graded by the four major card graders, with the highest grades being 15 PSA 10s, one SGC 9, one BGS 9 and one CGC 8.5.

Conclusion

Vintage Star Wars trading cards offer collectors a tangible connection to the original trilogy, capturing iconic characters and moments from the films. Cards like the 1977 Topps #1 Luke Skywalker and the infamous #207 C-3PO “Goldenrod” error have become highly sought after, not just for their rarity but for the stories they tell. As the Force continues to inspire generations, these cards remain cherished artifacts, preserving the magic of a galaxy far, far away.

Which vintage Star Wars card is your favorite, and are there any iconic ones you think we missed? We’d love to hear which cards stand out most in your collection or memory. Also, what’s your favorite film from the original trilogy — and why does it hold a special place for you?

Keep up with the latest trends in Star Wars card collecting by following the GradeX Market Report, your go-to source for tracking the most valuable and sought-after cards in the hobby.