This Topps card set might be a long-time collector's dream set in many ways. Planned to be released at the same time as the collector's DVD set of the original trilogy, this will be the first card set that will encompass all 6 Star Wars films.

While film three will only have 'preview' images included in the set, perhaps this card set will serve as a sneak peak at some of the great possibilities to come for Star Wars cards once all 6 films are completed. Finally, card sets can be created that tell the full story, and show a character's full development.

Star Wars fans old and new will be able to appreciate a card set that borrows so much from earlier card series, while still presenting something new and impressive for the collectors of today. Kids who never had a chance to experience the fun of opening the original wax packs, will have some of that fun opening these cards. Very similar to the Heritage cards put out for their sports card series, the Star Wars Heritage cards will feature vintage card designs printed on a gray-back card stock and will come complete with gum in every pack (wrapped however to protect the cards).

The experience of opening a box of Heritage cards is pretty amazing. The smell of the gum coming from the box is amazingly sweet. The gum itself is just a bit modernized from what we used to pull from packs as kids. This gum is sugar free, and it is softer than the original gum. Plus a clear foil wrapper protects the cards from gum oils. Still, opening Heritage packs is very similar to opening vintage packs. The wrappers are no longer sealed with wax, but do have a paper consistency, and they mirror original wrapper designs, imitating the old Luke/Obi-Wan wrapper and the old C-3P0 wrapper from vintage series.

It should be noted these are not merely reproductions of vintage cards. These are new cards, created in a vintage style. The cards feature all new images. While the scenes and characters will be familiar, these are images never before presented on Topps cards. And they are great images, presented with the now well known captions that range from simple to snappy.

This is a card set that also borrows heavily from some non-vintage card sets, in an attempt to encompass the full history of Star Wars trading cards. The etched foil chase cards for instance are not just reminiscent of the Galaxy etched foil cards from the 90's. The image presented on the Heritage etched foil card actually can be combined with the Galaxy cards to form a single montage image.

Promo cards for the set will be released in large quantities, and will feature one promo card for each film. Each promo card will be found at a different source. Unfortunately, the promo cards have been released slowly, making them appear scarce. And some promo cards are actually likely to only reach collectors after the card set has already been released.

Demand for the Heritage card set has been high, causing Topp's to create a two wave approach to releasing the card set. An initial wave one release of cards contained autographs, 6 etched foil cards and sketch cards. A second wave two release will contain autographs, 6 etched foil cards (that are different from wave one), and sketch cards, including a number of sketch cards from artists not included in wave one.

The box for this set reflects it's focus on the original vintage cards, imitating the look of a vintage box, and using the familiar blue starfield pattern used as the border of the first Star Wars cards. Wrappers also have a vintage feel, with one wrapper in green having the vintage Luke/Obi-Wan image, while another wrapper in black has the vintage C-3P0 image.

I have posted images of many of the cards. Please check out the Quick Card Info box for images of chase and promo cards. You may also click on the description of a card in the checklist for an image of that individual card where one is available.

Special thanks to Kristie Rock for providing the Retail stickers checklist found below.

Card Values ·  set value: $5 ·  unopened box: $65-85 ·  single: $0.25 ·  foil chase: $2-4 ·  sketch/autos: $varies ·  promos: $1-5 .  stickers: $3-5 Images can be seen at Andy's site Find these cards on ebay or trade for them in the Collector's Connection. Card Images hobby etched foil montage (wave one) heritage promo cards

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