Vectis Auctions has just sold an unopened box of Topps Star Wars Trading Cards from 1977 for over £22,000 ($25,000).
According to the auction, the box attracted substantial commission bids from collectors and investors even before it went live. “Strong early interest immediately signalled the growing strength of the vintage non-sport trading card market and ensured online bidders would have to compete aggressively if they hoped to take the lot home.”
In this case, the key to the box’s price lies in the fact nobody knew what was in it. Individual cards can often sell for between $80 and $100, but professionally graded cards are far more valuable when they’re in good condition. That’s especially true for individual character cards. One high-graded Luke Skywalker card sold for a staggering $268,400 in September 2025, shattering records; out of more than 4,600 graded copies, it was one of only nine to achieve Gem Mint status, making it incredibly valuable.
Topps originally launched these cards back in 1977, and the original blue-bordered Series 1 set (followed by red, yellow, green, and orange color waves) captured classic scenes, behind-the-scenes moments, and every key character. Few of these survived intact, and many suffered before collectors in 1977 didn’t have protective sleeves or grading services. It’s incredibly unusual to stumble upon an unopened box, and the winning bidder will no doubt be thrilled to discover what’s inside.
Happy hunting!
