1980 Topps Empire Strikes Back: A Collector's Guide

Three series, 352 cards and the trading card debuts of Yoda and Lando, with a growing following among vintage Star Wars collectors.

When The Empire Strikes Back opened in May 1980, Topps was ready with a much bigger set than the original. Over three series, the company issued 352 cards and 88 stickers, adding cast and crew photos, spaceship cards and Ralph McQuarrie concept paintings. For collectors who've finished the 1977 run, Empire is the natural next step. It covers the film many fans consider the best of the saga.

The Three Series at a Glance

Series 1 and 2 look nearly identical except for the inner frame color, so check the numbers when sorting.

Series 1 (Red)

Series 1 opens with a header card and runs the main character cards, #2–11: Luke, Leia, Han, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, Lando, Yoda, Darth Vader and Boba Fett. Yoda and Lando made their trading card debuts in this film's sets, and the Boba Fett card draws a big crowd of bounty hunter fans. The rest of the series covers the Hoth and Dagobah scenes. Two checklists close the series at #131–132.

Series 2 (Blue)

Series 2 adds spaceship cards (#134–143, including the Millennium Falcon, the Executor and an Imperial Star Destroyer), the Bespin scenes, and a run of cast and crew photo cards. It also includes behind-the-scenes "Movie Facts" cards, such as cards of Carrie Fisher and director Irvin Kershner. Checklists sit at #263–264.

Series 3 (Yellow)

The smaller final series has 88 cards, with a new run of character cards (#266–281) and closes with Ralph McQuarrie's space paintings and more "Movie Facts." Its yellow-gold borders make it the most distinctive-looking series of the three.

The Stickers

One sticker came in each pack. Series 1 and 2 each have 33 stickers: 22 letter stickers and 11 character stickers. Series 3 has 22 letter stickers and no character stickers. Character stickers are the most popular, and the letter stickers are a fun challenge for completists.

Giant Photo Cards

Topps also issued a separate set of 30 Giant Photo Cards measuring 5 by 7 inches. They're a different product from the standard cards, so collect and price them separately.

Condition Issues to Inspect

• Border chipping. The steel-gray borders of Series 1 and 2 show edge wear clearly.

• Centering. Off-center cards are common in all three series.

• Print defects: soft focus, roller lines and print dots.

• Gum stains on the backs.

• Sticker edges and surface wear.

Building the Set

Start with Series 1. It has the main character cards that most collectors want first.

Sort carefully. Series 1 and 2 differ mainly in frame color, so check card numbers when buying mixed lots.

Decide on stickers. A full run with stickers is 440 pieces. Character stickers are a good middle ground if you don't want every letter sticker.

Grade the keys. The character cards, especially Yoda, Boba Fett and Vader, are the natural candidates for grading in high condition.

Storage and Display

Standard sleeves and toploaders fit the cards. Nine-pocket pages work well for each series. Keep Giant Photo Cards in sleeves and holders sized for 5 by 7 inches.

Pricing Empire Cards

Empire cards remain affordable compared with the 1977 set, and that makes them a strong value for vintage Star Wars collectors. Character cards, especially Yoda, Boba Fett and Vader, lead the market, followed by the spaceship cards. Unopened packs, boxes and high-grade cards have attracted growing interest. As always, compare like with like: same card, same series, same grade.

Who Collects Empire

Many collectors consider The Empire Strikes Back the best film of the original trilogy, and that affection carries over to the cards. Collectors who finished the 1977 run often move here next. Fans of Boba Fett and Yoda come specifically for the character cards, and concept-art fans look for the Ralph McQuarrie paintings.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cards are in the 1980 Topps Empire Strikes Back set?

Three hundred fifty-two cards across three series, plus 88 stickers.

How do I tell Empire Strikes Back Series 1 from Series 2?

Series 1 has a red inner frame and cards #1–132. Series 2 has a blue inner frame and cards #133–264. The outer borders look nearly identical.

Is there a Boba Fett card in the 1980 Empire set?

Yes. Boba Fett is among the Series 1 character cards (#2–11).

Are 1980 Empire Strikes Back cards expensive?

Most singles are affordable. Character cards in high grade and unopened packs and boxes are where prices climb.

What are the Empire Giant Photo Cards?

A separate 30-card set of 5-by-7-inch photo cards issued in 1980. They're collected separately from the standard cards.

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