In 1977, The Topps Company became the first to produce and release Star Wars trading cards to coincide with the first film. Since then, they have remained the official producer in the US, though cards are manufactured by various other companies domestically and around the world.

Topps has utilized many different design styles and configurations for the cards, which are released in contained series. In addition to the regular cards, they can also include stickers, autograph cards, costume cards, specialty promos, and mail-away cards. As new sets are released, they feature new characters and scenes while also offering the potential for cards connected to older films.

Star Wars Series 1-5 and the Wonder Bread set were released in 1977, and the Topps Sugar Free Gum Wrappers were out in ’77-’78. Each of Series 1-5 includes 66 cards and 11 stickers, which are sequentially numbered to follow the previous set. Series 1 comprises cards 1-66 (blue border) and stickers 1-11, Series 2 adds cards 67-132 (red border) and stickers 12-22, Series 3 includes cards 133-198 (yellow border) and stickers 23-33, Series 4 features cards 199-264 (green border) and stickers 34-44, and Series 5 adds cards 265-330 (orange border) and stickers 45-55. The Wonder Bread set contains 16 cards and the Topps Sugar Free Gum Wrappers have 56 wrappers.

In 1980 five series were added for The Empire Strikes Back. Series 1 has 132 cards (red border) and 33 stickers, Series 2 adds 132 cards (blue border) and 33 stickers, Series 3 has 88 cards (yellow border) and 22 stickers, The Giant Photo Cards contains 30 5” x 7” cards, and the Star Wars Burger King set features 36 cards.

Return of the Jedi added Series 1 with 132 cards (red border) and 33 stickers and Series 2 added 88 cards (blue border) and 22 stickers – both in 1983.