1996 Topps Star Wars 3Di Widevision combines a pair of trading card gimmicks. First, it keeps with the oversized format that the card maker had been leaning into at the time. This time, though, it’s entirely in 3D — or at least as close as technology would allow for at the time.
1996 Topps Star Wars 3Di Widevision Checklist Details
Save for one card, the base set is the entire product. In other sets, 3D cards would be considered chase elements. Here, it’s almost everything. Of course, that meant a higher price tag. It also shows with a smaller checklist.
A New Hope is the focus for yet another set, this time with a recap spread over just 63 cards. That’s just over half the size of 1995’s standard Star Wars Widevision release. The lenticular 3D is the star, especially with the tall boy format that maintains the look of what’s shown on the screen.
The image takes up virtually the entire front save a small spot at the bottom for the Star Wars logo. While there is a 3D look to the cards, the lenticular technology isn’t as good as it is today. It can be a little murky and not always totally clear. Still, it’s something different and with the number of products dedicated to the franchise starting to quickly grow at this point, it was enough to stand out.
The checklist has just one insert, a MultiMotion card showing the original Death Star meet its demise.
Reception and Fallout
1996 Topps Star Wars 3Di Widevision is not an easy set to piece together. Packs come with just three cards. With good collation, a full box of 36 packs should have a complete set but far from a second. Factor in the premium price tag at the time and not much in the way of inserts and it was a tough sell at the time.
Things are a little different today. With not a lot of people chasing it then, it has since become one of the tougher — and valuable — sets of Star Wars trading cards from the era.
While the plan was to continue the series across the entire original trilogy, it wasn’t until 2010 that The Empire Strikes Back 3D finally came out. It would be a few more years and a switch to an online-exclusive distribution for Return of the Jedi.
1996 Topps Star Wars 3Di Widevision Checklist
Click on the links to shop for cards on eBay or to check current market values.
Set size: 63 cards
Cards per pack: 3
Packs per box: 36
Boxes per case: 10
Shop for 1996 Topps Star Wars 3Di Widevision boxes on eBay.
Base Set Checklist
63 cards.
Buy on eBay:
1 Star Wars: A New Hope
2 Pursuit in Space!
3 Droids in Crossfire!
4 A Princess Strikes Back!
5 Release of the Escape Pod!
6 Toward Tatooine!
7 Jawas in Hiding!
8 Enter Luke Skywalker!
9 The Leia Hologram!
10 Spotting Sandpeople!
11 Attacked by Tusken Raiders!
12 Rescued by Ben Kenobi!
13 A Message for Help!
14 Power of the Dark Side!
15 Fate of the Lars Homestead!
16 Cantina Denziens!
17 Meet Han and Chewie!
18 Alerting the Sandtrooper!
19 Preparing for Space Travel!
20 Escape from Tatooine!
21 Han Solo in Command!
22 Jumping into Hyperspace!
23 Target: Alderaan!
24 Laser of Destruction!
25 Leia’s Ordeal!
26 Destruction of a Planet!
27 Lightsaber Practice!
28 Approaching the Death Star!
29 Drawn into Danger!
30 Heroes in Hiding!
31 Accessing Imperial Data!
32 Luke’s Rescue Plan!
33 A “Captured” Chewbacca!
34 Han Solo’s Bluff!
35 Trapped in the Alcove!
36 Trash Compactor Peril!
37 The Power Generator Trench!
38 Shoot-Out in the Shaft!
39 Swinging to Safety!
40 When Jedi Clash!
41 Run, Luke! Run!
42 Escaping the Death Star!
43 I Can’t Believe He’s Gone!
44 Skirmish in Space!
45 Got Him! I Got Him!
46 Destination: Yavin!
47 The Rebel Hideout!
48 Briefing the Rebels!
49 X-Wings Away!
50 Assault on the Death Star!
51 Monitoring the Battle!
52 Vader in the Trench!
53 Targets Coming Up!
54 Artoo Hanging On!
55 Blasted by Vader!
56 Luke Uses the Force!
57 Surprise Attack!
58 Vader’s Final Stand!
59 Solo to the Rescue!
60 Death Star Departure!
61 The Victorious Rebels!
62 Honored for Their Bravery!
63 Heroes of the Rebellion!
MultiMotion Checklist
1 card.
1:36 packs.
1m Exploding Death Star
Promo Cards Checklist
3Di 1 Darth Vader
3Di 2 Luke Skywalker / Darth Vader Ralph McQuarrie Concept Art
