Empire Strikes Back was Topps’ second swing at Star Wars and it shows—bigger set, sharper photography, and enough Yoda to fill a Dagobah swamp. The 1980 run came in three color-themed series and jammed way more cards into packs than 1977. Translation: tons of nostalgic cardboard… but high grades still make you sweat.

Why ESB Still Slaps

• Character heat spike: Yoda, Lando, and a fully menacing Vader give this run real staying power.
• Design aging well: the gray/blue vibe + tighter cropping makes centered copies pop.
• Sticker rabbit hole: die-cut letters and character stickers that are way tougher in high grade than sellers pretend.

Rarity & Grading (a.k.a. Where Joy Goes to Chip)

Yes, Topps printed plenty—but centered, clean, chip-free copies are a different universe. ESB surfaces show print snow and the borders betray the slightest corner kiss. The sticker stock is extra unforgiving, and Series 1 & 2 high-grade stickers don’t exactly grow on Bespin trees.

Curmudgeon’s Corner: If your plan is “crack raw and pray,” I admire the optimism. I prefer “loupe, light, and leave it if it leans.”

The Three Series at Lightspeed

• Series 1 (132 cards): early film stills + Star File character cards (Luke #2, Leia #3, Han #4, Yoda #9, Vader #10, Boba #11).
• Series 2 (132 cards): deeper plot shots, Hoth/Bespin action, more character focus.
• Series 3 (88 cards): later-run scenes and clean portrait-style images that look sneaky great in slabs.

Top Sales (Receipts, Not Fairy Tales)

• Yoda #9 (PSA 10): gem mint sales have reached the low $3,000s range; PSA 9s often land in the low-mid hundreds.
• Luke #2 / Vader #10 / Boba #11: PSA 9s routinely sell; gem tens are scarce and swingy—supply is thin, eye appeal decides the outcome.
• Uncut & oddities: ESB uncut material and pristine wax/rack items continue to draw strong bidding when authenticated.

Translation: ESB isn’t a “$60k Luke rookie” market like 1977 S1—but the very best copies (and certain stickers) absolutely punch above their weight.

What I’d Actually Buy

• Centered Star Files: Yoda #9, Vader #10, Boba #11, Lando #8—look for tight corners and no snow.
• Sticker stunners: crisp die-cut letters (S1) and clean character stickers from S1/S2; they’re sleepers in mid-high grade.
• Series 3 eye candy: fewer checklists to chase, and some shots are criminally undervalued if perfectly centered.

Grading & Pitfalls

• Pre-grade under strong light. Catch corner flecks and print snow before the submission fee does.
• Respect centering. ESB can tilt like a Star Destroyer in a tractor beam—skip the leaners.
• Stickers scratch easy. Dark outlines magnify every nick; store them like they’re glass.

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Collector vs Gambler (Pick a Lane)

Break wax for fun, buy singles for sanity. If the card sings—centered, clean, sharp—pay up. If it hums off-key, let someone else chase the fairy tale.

TL;DR

Three ESB series, 352 base cards, 88 stickers, 12+1 in a pack. Tons printed—but high-grade stunners still command real money. Buy with your eyes, not with a bedtime story about “potential tens.”