1977 Japan, set of 36.
Japanese Topps cards by Yamakatsu. These actually do say "Topps Chewing Gum Inc." on every card, but that's about all I can read. These came 4 to a pack, and there were 36 cards to a set. They are slightly oversized as compared to U.S. cards, but are really nice quality wise. The packs were sold from a hanging display, way back in 1977 Japan. Pictured are the backs and fronts of several packs, and a close-up of the header card from the hanging display. I'm not sure exactly how many packs would come with a full display, but mine came with 25 and was just about as full as it could be. I'd guess that a hanging display with 25 unopened packs would be equivalent to a full "wax box" of U.S. Topps cards.
These cards were also sold in "gamble books". The books would have one card per page, and the kids would open one page and pull a card. In the gamble books, some of the cards were "winner cards" and could be exchanged for a prize. The "winner cards" had red printing on the back (see examples shown) that indicated the prize. The gamble books themselves each had a different card glued to the front, so even the empty books could be collected as a set! I suppose you could have a winner card set, a gamble book set, and a regular set. Also shown, are the fronts and backs of two gamble books.
Thanks to Kirk Taniguchi, following the scans is a checklist for this set. The descriptions are based on the captions for the cards with the same photos, from the U.S. Topps set, and the number following the description is the number of the corresponding Topps card. The captions in italics did not correspond to a Topps card; the order is chronological. Several collectors have been considering getting this set graded by PSA - so this would be the preferred submission information. Please let us know if you have any feedback on this.
WANTS FROM THIS SET: Anything not shown, as well additional winner cards not shown, additional empty gamble books with other cards on the front, and a full gamble book..
1977 Topps/Yamakatsu Star Wars "large size" checklist:
1. Harrison Ford as Han Solo 58
2. R2-D2 and C-3PO 118
3. Han Solo and Chewbacca 121
4. Darth Vader inspects the throttled ship 142
5. The Escape Pod is jettisoned! 155
6. Luke sizes up a droid for purchase
7. Luke checks out his new droid 14
8. See-Threepio and Luke 67
9. Pursued by the Jawas 130
10. A closer look at a “Jawa” 175
11. Sighting Artoo-Detoo! 95
12. The droids on Tatooine 96
13. Threepio, Ben and Luke! 119
14. The Tusken Raiders 21
15. Hunted by the Sand People 20
16. On the track of the droids 138
17. Stormtroopers seek the droids! 24
18. The droids are reunited! 12
19. Carrie Fisher and Mark Hamill 65
20. Han and Chewie shoot it out! 44
21. Roar of the Wookie! 128
22. Lord Vader’s guards 32
23. A desperate moment for Ben 46
24. Waiting in the control room 77
25. Cornered in the labyrinth 37
26. Deadly blasters! 182
27. The Rebel Fleet 127
28. Luke is ready for battle!
29. Luke prepares for the battle 47
30. Artoo-Detoo is loaded aboard 48
31. Who will win the final Star War? 52
32. Battle in outer space! 53
33. Spectacular battle! 131
34. The victors receive their reward 54
35. Han, Chewie and Luke 55
36. Threepio and Artoo celebrate!