Topps has announced 5 products for 2015:

February brings us the High End Star Wars Masterwork product at nearly $200 a box.

February also has a retail only release for the Star Wars Rebels cartoon. 100 card set, 20 stickers, and 10 Tattoos. Plus "approximately 500" sketches inserted throughout the product.

April is the release of Star Wars: Empire Strikes Back Illustrated. The second set that derives it's content from the radio shows. A solid all-art set.

June has a Star Wars Revenge of the Sith 3D Widevision set exclusive to the Topps Website with autographs and sketches.

Finally in August is Star Wars Chrome Perspectives Part 2. A followup to the very well received 2014 chrome release.

Now, they won't announce anything for past August. But you have to think there will be at least a set for Star Wars VII. And maybe some sort of Heritage Style set covering all the previous movies. There's lots of potential out there for more than these 5.

Star Wars fans, now is the time to look for a 2nd job or start donating plasma on a regular basis. You're going to need some cash to keep up.

Ed

quote:

Originally posted by Scifi Cards:

... you have to think there will be at least a set for Star Wars VII.
Ed

Previously the movies have always been released with at least two Topps sets, initially. So, SEVEN sets is ALOT for one year!

Maybe some fans wil be skipping the Rebels sets, but then hopefully the kids who watch the series will purchase the sets at retail.

I am most excited about the Chrome Perspectives II set. Also, happy that the ROTS 3D WV set will be easy (assuming I am paying attention, and able to order it!). I think the ROTJ set available on the Topps website sold out fast!

3D Widevision aside, it's nothin' but cash-grabs from Topps.

Ed, please email me

mistermycroft@msn.com

I'm happy for the Revenge of the Sith 3D set, but where's the Attack of the Clones 3D set? They should do that one first. If not, I hope they get to it. Maybe the next 3D set will actually cover both "Clones" and "Sith", the only two movies that don't have a 3D set yet.
They should probably also do a reprint of the older 3D sets (A New Hope and Phantom Menace), so not only those who missed them 20 and 15 years ago, respectively, can get them, but also so they can be printed for the first time on the modern thinner and better stock that was used for the Empire and Jedi 3D sets.

quote:

Originally posted by mintoncard:
3D Widevision aside, it's nothin' but cash-grabs from Topps.

The 3D sets released in the fashion the Jedi set was released in is actually the cash-grabbiest of all of the sets. What else can you call something that saw the 2,000 sets that were made sell out at $100 each within the first couple of days for a quick gross of $200,000 for Topps?
Even so, unless there are some spectacular autograph signers in the upcoming Sith set, that one won't sell through quite as quickly as the Jedi set sold out earlier this year. Believe it or not, there are some people who think the original trilogy was better than the prequel trilogy. Crazy, huh?

One thing I'm wondering about, as I see this long line up of new Star Wars cards for 2015, how are the already released regular and high end Star Wars products doing on the market?

On Card Talk there is always much discussion about upcoming products before release and not so much afterwards beyond a few box breaks. It seems to me that the Star Wars titles, with the exception of the new movie to come, have already reached the saturation point even for the most loyal of collectors. So does it really make sense to buy $200 boxes or go into art sets unless there is still room to grow value? Is there still room to grow value, I guess that's my question.

I think the main thing the ultra high end Star Wars (and other popular titles that get the treatment like Marvel Comics) has going for them is the truly limited nature of the print run, particularly compared to the production runs of only 10 years ago for Star Wars cards, let alone 20 years ago when all of the sets were massively overproduced.

To wit, the actual master sets that can be made (due to serial numbers and such) of these high end sets are so low, the number of collectors (as opposed to pure speculators who immediately re-sell) is sufficient to buy up the quantities and hold them in their collections. Then, even as those cards inevitably do go back on the market in the years that follow, it happens gradually, so there never seems to be some huge abundance of them all at once.

We know for sure these cards are selling out a wholesale/retail, or there wouldn't be followup sets on any them. Pretty much all of these sets are sequels to earlier sets. As long as the buyers feel they are getting value (however they may define that) for their money, the cards will keep selling. And as long as the print runs stay so low, it will be difficult for the aftermarket to ever become flooded with them, anything beyond the base sets and the "easy" inserts at least. But with "Masterwork", even those base sets will be only rarely offered for sale as complete sets, given the scarcity of the singles to make it.

I think a look at the how the values of the cards from the first ultra high end Marvel Comics set from a couple of years ago will be a pretty fair indicator of what collectors/resellers can expect with the Star Wars "Masterwork" set in the next couple of years. Based on the fast sell-through on the first series, though, I wouldn't be surprised to be talking about "Masterwork II" this time, next years. Naturally, what goes into these upcoming sets will have a big say in whether that happens or not.

On most of these sets to come, I plan to get a box or two or each when released (if I'm even able to, "Sith 3D" will sell out pretty fast) and then finish the easy inserts (and pick up a couple of the autographs, perhaps) online.
It's a very good AND very bad time to be a Star Wars card collector. Lots of cool stuff coming up, but they're going to want a lot of money for it.

I have zero interest in any of the mid- to high-end sets, but I can see myself picking up some packs of Rebels if they are 99¢ each. If they are more than that, I will just wait it out until Episode VII hits (I must have an Adam Driver autograph card, I am a big fan).

quote:

Originally posted by chesspieceface:
They should probably also do a reprint of the older 3D sets (A New Hope and Phantom Menace), so not only those who missed them 20 and 15 years ago, respectively, can get them, but also so they can be printed for the first time on the modern thinner and better stock that was used for the Empire and Jedi 3D sets.

I agree 100%. I have both Star Wars & Phantom sets, and both could use a "lenticular upgrade".

quote:

Originally posted by chesspieceface:
The 3D sets released in the fashion the Jedi set was released in is actually the cash-grabbiest of all of the sets.

Perhaps. But I felt you were getting more bang-for-the-buck with the full set box with some cool inserts (sketch/patch/maybe auto). Also, I know the process involved to bring those widevision 3D cards to life, and it is costly. So I feel the price was justified. Honestly, I never thought Topps would complete the OT Widevision 3D series. Especially after the cancellation of the Widevision 3D Avatar set a few years back.

Thanks for giving me your insight CPF. I understand your viewpoint, and not being a big Star Wars fan, I'll take your opinion as being shared by other Star Wars collecters.

The only point that I might argue is that question of limited supply as opposed to overproduction. It is true that these are all separate releases with their own piece of the Star Wars universe. Some are high end and therefore very limited. Some are autograph focused and some are more art based. However it is all based on Star Wars and all increase the totality of the cards available, if not the individual nature of the product.

That has to soften the market for at least some of the prior releases. Maybe not the exclusive high end stuff, but certainly mid range and lower cards. If for example Carrie Fisher signed 50 autographs in a set, that would be limited and the price would reflect that. Now she still signs 50 autographs, only there are 10 different products out there, just as an example. Well it goes from 50 signatures to 500 signatures as a total. That has to affect something and the affect will be to decrease value if it does anything. It certainly won't increase it unless Star Wars is immune to the laws of supply and demand.

haha, well, however you dress them up, they are pretty much the same cards over and over. I'm just hoping these continued releases going over the same subject matter will at least allow a more comprehensive list of signers from the original trilogy when all is said and done. At this point, I'd say that's my main interest in Star Wars cards would be autographs from cast members I don't have yet, so each one of these relatively repetitive sets offer a chance at that, at least.

I'm sure that's not too different for James Bond, Star Trek, and Buffy autograph collectors, to name just a couple. All of those subjects have been covered to (near) death on trading cards, but there all still some coveted signers left on want lists from all of them.

At least the new Star Wars movies will bring new characters and subject matter to the cards based on them. The first Star Wars VII movie set should be a very big hit.

quote:

Originally posted by Jason00:
I have zero interest in any of the mid- to high-end sets, but I can see myself picking up some packs of Rebels if they are 99¢ each. If they are more than that, I will just wait it out until Episode VII hits (I must have an Adam Driver autograph card, I am a big fan).

Hate to say the SRP on Rebels is $1.99 a pack.

But you should be able to find a box under $40 if you know where to look. And I feel that's not too bad a price in the current market.

Ed

Can't afford to collect all Star Wars but do like these higher end releases.

quote:

Originally posted by Scifi Cards:

quote:

Originally posted by Jason00:
I have zero interest in any of the mid- to high-end sets, but I can see myself picking up some packs of Rebels if they are 99¢ each. If they are more than that, I will just wait it out until Episode VII hits (I must have an Adam Driver autograph card, I am a big fan).

Hate to say the SRP on Rebels is $1.99 a pack.

But you should be able to find a box under $40 if you know where to look. And I feel that's not too bad a price in the current market.

Ed

Quite reasonable indeed, if all Star Wars sets were in this bracket I would buy into them all subject to there being only couple of inserts, no parallels/ sketches/ high end inserts. Sadly Topps cannot resist inserting sketches even for a set aimed at kids!

quote:

Originally posted by Scifi Cards:

quote:

Originally posted by Jason00:
I have zero interest in any of the mid- to high-end sets, but I can see myself picking up some packs of Rebels if they are 99¢ each. If they are more than that, I will just wait it out until Episode VII hits (I must have an Adam Driver autograph card, I am a big fan).

Hate to say the SRP on Rebels is $1.99 a pack.

But you should be able to find a box under $40 if you know where to look. And I feel that's not too bad a price in the current market.

Ed

Yep, I noticed that when I saw your newsletter. I don't think $2 is outrageous, but I also can't see myself buying enough packs to build a set at the higher price.

quote:

Originally posted by Scifi Cards:

Hate to say the SRP on Rebels is $1.99 a pack.

Ed

These will be $5-6 a pack in the UK and they wonder why the hobby is dying over here.

quote:

Originally posted by chesspieceface:
haha, well, however you dress them up, they are pretty much the same cards over and over. I'm just hoping these continued releases going over the same subject matter will at least allow a more comprehensive list of signers from the original trilogy when all is said and done. At this point, I'd say that's my main interest in Star Wars cards would be autographs from cast members I don't have yet, so each one of these relatively repetitive sets offer a chance at that, at least.

I'm sure that's not too different for James Bond, Star Trek, and Buffy autograph collectors, to name just a couple. All of those subjects have been covered to (near) death on trading cards, but there all still some coveted signers left on want lists from all of them.

At least the new Star Wars movies will bring new characters and subject matter to the cards based on them. The first Star Wars VII movie set should be a very big hit.

If I were a Star Wars completest (and a millionaire!) I would struggle with Star Wars sets these days, there is only so much material you can rehash out of 6 films. Even as a Bond fan I don't bother with compilation sets these days, even with 23 films to work with they get a bit samey. It is refreshing to have comprehensive base sets with rare imagery for each film. Similarly Star Wars fans will lap up cards for Episode VII.

There is something to be said for all the repetition though, and that is better prices on the rarer and previously super expensive autograph hits. There was a time (back in the Evolution/Heritage days) when a Princess Leia autograph card would set you back £1,000+ but now if you're not too fussed what set it comes from and just want a certified Carrie Fisher Star Wars auto, you're talking a couple hundred quid. Not cheap by any means, but a substantial enough difference to make a very desirable card A LOT more accessible to many more fans.
The same has happened to the likes of Mark Hamill, Daniel Craig, Pierce Brosnan, William Shatner, Leonard Nimoy and even your Harrison Ford's. The latter won't pull in £8k like his first Star Wars cards did!

Even though repetitious sets give can be carried on the back of new signers sprinkled in here and there, I think repeat autos offer more than just cheaper prices, and offer collectors more collecting choices if they are not bound by the completest mentality.

An example in my case is the latest Bond set: Daniel Craig's first Bond auto card (the Casino Royale full-bleed) came out 4 years ago and goes for about £300. But only this year, from the latest set, have I added him to my collection for just over a third of that. Not cheap, but two-thirds off the old going rate isn't bad in my book. I suppose that's because the one from this year's Archives set is his 7th(!) Bond auto card. But I wanted him on a Skyfall card so a bit of patience on my part and repetition from RA has meant I can craft a collection to my specific tastes.

I don't get why collectors slam manufacturers for making more cards of great signers.

quote:

Originally posted by X:

I don't get why collectors slam manufacturers for making more cards of great signers.

well I guess if I had paid £500 for an autograph card and then the manufacturer released another 5 versions and the market price of mine dropped to £100 because of it I might complain a bit.