Are “Complete Master Sets” still possible? (...and my foolish attempt at one).

[Raymond23]

Has anyone attempted a “True” Master Set (every hit, every parallel, every autograph, every sketch artist, absolutely everything EXCEPT true 1/1’s) for a hobby/retail release Non-Sport set in recent years? Is it even possible anymore?

I was curious how close I was to having a full master set for Star Wars 40th Anniversary (was actually never trying for one, but it’s basically the only cards I have collected since 2017 and it has gotten out of hand). Short answer...not even remotely close. By my count, I have 1127/1446 unique cards (excluding true 1/1’s). That comes out to a disappointing 77.9% completion rate.

To clarify, my definition of a true master set was “Every possible card EXCEPT true 1/1’s”. However, I would still need at lease one example of each type of 1/1 (one base red, one base plate, one auto plate, one red medallion, one sketch from each artist in the set, one of all 50 film cel cards...even though each film cel is a 1/1, etc).

I made a complete checklist and went thru my set. Breakdown below.

Curious if anyone else has tried for a true master set (and what your definition of the term would be) in recent years. Seems to be a dying collecting goal these days. Mini-master sets (no hits, no parallels, no numbered inserts) seem to still have some popularity and I have a few of those. Also, I think “Master Sets” are still possible with most online releases (Star Wars 3D, Living Set, On Demand, Countdown To..., etc) but can be quite the challenge.

Thoughts?


My Star Wars 40th Anniversary True Master Checklist (1127/1446, 77.9% complete).
-602/602 base/parallels (200/200 base, 100/100 green, 100/100 blue, 100/100 purple (xx/100), 100/100 gold (xx/40), 1/1 red, 1/1 plate).
-49/137 autographs (40/40 base, 5/44 purple (xx/40), 5/51 gold (xx/10), 1/1 red, 1/1 plate)
-0/11 (xx/2-6) multi autograph cards
-0/5 (xx/10)auto medallions
-55/175 medallions/patches (43/43 base, 3/43 blue (xx/40), 3/43 purple (xx/25), 4/42 gold (xx/10), 2/3 reds, 0/0 plates)
-96/96 [+178 additional sketches] sketches artists
-235/330 vintage buybacks
-13/14 (known) buyback “hits”
-50/50 film cels
-17/17 stickers
-9/9 promo cards
-0/0 (+1) blank sketch card (not officially part of the set)
-0/0 (+13) Archive Signature (not officially part of the set)

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***Edit: I finally photographed everything and got them uploaded. Enjoy! ***

200 Card Base Set (only the first 100 cards have parallels):









Green Parallel (1/pack I think)






Blue Parallel (1:4 packs)





Purple Parallels (xx/100)






Gold Parallels (xx/40)





Rainbows. I don’t try for 1/1 sets, but I attempt mega-rainbows (Red 1/1, as many plates as I can find, all parallels).

Card 78 (Red 1/1 + 2 Plates):


Card 97 (Red 1/1 + 1 Plate)



Film Cel Set. 50 Cards. Many unannounced SP and SSP. No parallels, but each film cel is unique and each card is listed as 1/1.



Patch Set (Target Exclusive, 20 cards) and Medallion Set (23 cards, some with Falcon Medallion, others with Death Star Medallion). There are Purple, Blue, Gold, and Red Parallels to patches and medallions (/40, /25, /10, 1/1). I didn’t bother chasing the parallels, so I fall short of a true master set here).


Rainbows of a Death Star and Millennium Falcon Medallion. There are no plates for this set. I am looking for ANY Red 1/1 Patch card so I can rainbow that. I have never seen a pic or any evidence these exist...



Autograph Set: 51 subjects. 40 available in base tier. 4 available in Purple, Gold, Red only. 7 available in Gold, Red only. I am missing 4 subjects...all gold exclusives (Ford, Fisher, Hamill, Bauerfeld). I did not chase the parallels. There are also very rare multi-autograph cards and autographed medallions which I have not chased. Again, falling WAY short of a master set with these...


Auto Rainbow (only missing the Cyan Plate)


Classic “Sticker“ Cards (Promo Cards for the SWCT app. Each numbered to 100).



Promo Cards. 4 cards were distributed at the Topps Booth (each numbered to /200). There is a “Volunteer Edition” given time volunteers at the event. Rumor is that fewer then 30 sets exist (I’ve seen 3 sets surface). One “Loot” card (1:10, promo for the SWCT app):


“Sketch Master Set”

I view this as the crown jewel of this collection. All 96 artists. Sketches could only show characters/scenes from the original Star Wars movie (A New Hope). I tried to get as many unique characters, costumes, ships, planets, props as possible. I have commissioned various artists to fill the more glaring omissions (like, no x-wing fighter currently in the set). I have about 12 sketches pending which should basically fill the gaps. This should result in the most complete single movie/single set sketch set possible. About 275 sketches (and a blank). Enjoy...































Blank Sketch Card:



40th Anniversary has all 5 sets of Vintage cards (excluding stickers) as foil stamped buybacks. I just purchased a huge lot, but on a payment plan so I don’t have them all in hand. Once received, I’ll have 235/330 cards. I have blues, reds and yellows in hand (Series 1-3). Greens and Oranges are incoming (Series 4-5). This set will never be completed. Even the common sets have rare cards, and buybacks were seeded at 1/box.

Here’s the breakdown of what I will have once they are all received.

Blues (Ultra Rare): 31/66
Reds (Common): 60/66
Yellows (Common): 55/66
Greens (Rare): 48/66
Oranges (Rare): 41/66



























I have a few oranges in hand. I’ll post the rest when they arrive...



Topps also included “Buyback Hits”. These were “hits” from more recent sets. Best I can tell, Topps just cleared out old inventory (sketches, plates, etc.). I assume they were held back as replacements for missing/damaged hits and the sets were so old, they were no longer needed. No idea what was included. I have tried for one of each known “type” of card, but the checklist is purely based on what I have found in the wild. I’m likely missing several. 40th stamp is on the back of the card, just to make this chase harder. I am missing an example of the 2013 Jedi Legacy Film Cel. Only type that I know is missing. Some are missing from the photos I believe...

Buyback Sets:
- 1977 Vintage Series 1-5
- 2012 Galactic Files (Autograph)
- 2013 Galactic Files (Sketch, Printing Plate)
- 2013 Jedi Legacy (Printing Plate, Film Cel*)
- 2013 Star Wars Illustrated (Film Cel)
- 2014 Chrome Perspective (Medallion, Sketch)
- 2015 ESB Illustrated (Film Cel)
- 2015 High Tek (Sketch)
- 2015 Masterwork (Film Used Prop, Medallion)
- 2016 Evolution (Sketch)
- 2016 The Force Awakens Series 2 (Sketch)





Star Wars Archives Signatures:
Different set. Base cards from prior sets sent to actors for autograph. Stamped and encapsulated. There were a bunch of cards used from 40th...all SSP. Here are the ones I have tracked down...