Chase Ralph McQuarrie Original Art and Buyback Cards in 2025 Star Wars Chrome Galaxy

McQuarrie Art in 2025 Star Wars Chrome Galaxy

As part of the new release of 2025 Star Wars Chrome® Galaxy, Topps is proud to include Topps Chrome® Layers Original Art cards for the first-time ever, highlighting concept art from one of the original creative forces behind the Star Wars franchise, Ralph McQuarrie.

As exciting, this year’s set includes 20 buyback cards featuring McQuarrie’s work from the iconic 1993 Star Wars Galaxy Series 1 and 1994 Star Wars Series 2 sets. In addition, collectors can chase two incredible cards from the 1993 set that were signed by McQuarrie himself. Both of these fascinating inserts are sure to be among the hottest chases in 2025 Star Wars Chrome Galaxy.

As with the franchise itself, McQuarrie’s work remains essential to the Star Wars Hobby. “McQuarrie created the visual universe for Star Wars through his concept art and is the reason Star Wars got green-lit by the movie studio,” Topps Product Manager Brian Schilling said. “He created many of the characters that you see today in the Star Wars Universe. He set the standard for Star Wars Original Art, which we use in these products today with original art inserts sets.”

As to the Topps Chrome® Layers Original Art, Schilling added, “This is the first year that we have had Ralph McQuarrie shadowbox cards in a Star Wars trading card product. These fall one in every two cases. They will showcase his original concept art in a unique way that we have never done before.” 

Cards include Darth Vader vs. Luke Skywalker and Lando Calrissian Greets Han Solo, with a total checklist of 15 cards.

When it came time to build out the Ralph McQuarrie Buybacks insert, the 1993 and 1994 Star Wars Galaxy sets were must-haves. “These two sets are the first and second Star Wars original art sets,” Schilling explained, “highlighting artists like the Hildebrant brothers, Ralph Mcquarrie, and a lot of other artists that have contributed to Star Wars original art throughout the years.”

With 2025 Star Wars Chrome Galaxy dropping on December 10, these impressive Ralph McQuarrie inserts will soon be there for the chasing, with appeal to collectors old and new, as well as bonafide history buffs of the Star Wars franchise.

2025 Topps Star Wars Chrome® Galaxy Collector FAQs

• What is the Topps Chrome® Layers Original Art insert in 2025 Star Wars Chrome Galaxy?
  • The set features Ralph McQuarrie’s original Star Wars concept art presented in a layered, shadowbox-style Chrome® card design.
• How rare are the Topps Chrome® Layers Original Art cards in 2025 Star Wars Chrome Galaxy?
  • These cards fall at a rate of approximately one per two Hobby cases, making them one of the rarest non-autograph inserts in the product.
• What are the Ralph McQuarrie Buyback cards in 2025 Star Wars Chrome Galaxy?
  • The Ralph McQuarrie Buyback cards are original cards pulled directly from earlier Star Wars releases and inserted into 2025 Topps Star Wars Chrome® Galaxy packs.
• Why are the Ralph McQuarrie Buybacks significant in 2025 Star Wars Chrome Galaxy?
  • These cards come from the earliest Star Wars trading card sets dedicated to original artwork and represent some of The Hobby’s first appearances of McQuarrie’s Star Wars art.

Key Facts

• First appearance of McQuarrie shadowbox-style cards in a Star Wars product
• 15-card insert set
• Layered Chrome® construction featuring landmark Star Wars scenes
• Odds: Approximately one per two Hobby Cases
• Buyback cards sourced from 1993 Star Wars Galaxy Series 1 and 1994 Star Wars Galaxy Series 2; 20 total cards

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