*EDIT- A "Thank you" to Sooz, from Cardboard Problem and Topps, she left a comment with a link to Topps Star Wars Facebook which includes the checklist for Masterwork along with some very cool preview images. Here is the Topps Star Wars link
Once again Topps is turning to Star Wars, the first of 5 Star Wars releases this year, but this time
going high-end with their 2015 Star Wars Masterwork release scheduled for a
mid-February release. Each $250-275 box will include 4 packs for a total of 20 cards. Each box
will include an on-card autograph, a sketch card and two other “Premium”
inserts (read this as manufactured relics).
There are some positives like autographs of the main
characters including Mark Hamill and Carrie Fisher, multi-signature autograph
booklets, limited sketch cards and movie prop and costume relics. But like your
typical Topps release there are plenty of parallels (4 per base card while
inserts have 6 parallels each.) and no matter how “Groundbreaking” Clay
Luraschi claims it to be manufactured relics are not “taking collectability to
new heights”. Some of the manufactured relics include stamps and weapon
medallions plus for some reason they decided to create autograph cards that
contains a fragment of the pen used to sign the cards. I don’t know why anyone
would want a cool autograph with the nib of a pen attached.
In the end this is the type of product where you leave
others to pay the upfront price of the box and instead hunt down the singles
that interest you when they begin to flood the secondary market. I love Star
Wars releases and I am sure that even at such a high price point people will
still purchase boxes I think companies are definitely going about creating
value the wrong way when they insert fake relics and autographs of Background
Stormtrooper #2 in to a product like this.
Base:
Inserts:
Defining Moments base, Rainbow Foil parallel #/299, Metal parallel #/10 & Gold parallel #1/1
Inserts
Manufactured relics
Hits
FYI, they have posted a ton of card images on their Facebook page and a checklist for this set. https://www.facebook.com/OfficialToppsStarWars?ref=br_tf
ReplyDeleteThose stamps are genuine US postage stamps from right around the turn of the decade, not manufactured by Topps.
ReplyDeleteI like the concept of putting parts of the pens into the cards. That's truly unique and the first time it's ever been done to my knowledge.
I don't do highend so I will probably never see any of these in person (no way I'm spending $250 for 10 cards).
True the stamps are not manufactured but they are definitely not the type of "hit" you would want to pull from a high end product. When you spend $250 on a box you want the hits to be something special not a stamp or medallion. Only autographs, sketch cards, prop cards and costume cards should go in to a box like this.
DeleteI am hoping to pick up some of the bunker wall prop cards after prices hopefully drop, they are too high right now. The shadowbox sketch cards are very cool too.