1979 Topps Alien: A Collector's Guide

Ridley Scott's horror classic on cardboard: 84 cards, 22 stickers and the most famous scene in sci-fi.

Alien hit theaters in May 1979 and changed science-fiction horror for good. Topps, fresh off the success of its Star Wars cards, issued an 84-card set with 22 stickers. The cards capture the film's grimy spaceship, its crew and, of course, the creature. For collectors of sci-fi and horror, it's one of the essential sets of the late 1970s, and its fan base has grown with every new film in the franchise.

The Set at a Glance

• Issuer: Topps, licensed from 20th Century Fox.

• Cards: 84.

• Stickers: 22.

• Fronts: Mostly film stills, plus crew and promotional portraits, spaceship exteriors and behind-the-scenes shots. The cards are red with a yellow inner border for the caption and a torn-edge effect suited to a horror film.

• Backs: Two types, described below.

The Backs

Collectors find two back designs:

• Write-up backs, with text about the film set inside the shape of the alien egg.

• Puzzle backs, in two colors. Pink-bordered pieces build a picture of the refinery, and blue-bordered pieces build the mummified alien pilot known as the Space Jockey.

The puzzles are a handy way to check a set for completeness.

Key Cards

• #1 The Nostromo. The opening card, condition-sensitive like every #1.

• #43 Fantastic Space Jockey. One of the film's most iconic designs.

• #61 The Chest Burster. The scene everyone remembers, and the card most collectors want first.

• #70 The Murderous Android.

• #81 Ripley Strikes Back.

• #84 The Survivor, the last card in the set.

Cards featuring Ripley and the creature draw the most interest. Sigourney Weaver's role made Ripley one of film's great heroines, and that adds crossover appeal.

Condition Issues to Inspect

• Red border wear. Chips and edge touches show clearly against the red.

• Centering, often off on late-1970s Topps cards.

• Print defects: soft focus, print dots and roller lines. The film's dark scenes make print quality especially important.

• Gum stains on the backs.

• Sticker edges and surface wear.

Building the Set

It's achievable. The cards are widely available, so a complete 84-card set is a realistic goal.

Prioritize the creature cards. Lock in #61 The Chest Burster, the Space Jockey card and the best Ripley cards in strong condition.

Add the stickers. A complete set with all 22 stickers is the standard most collectors aim for.

Use the puzzle backs as a checklist. Laying out the refinery and Space Jockey puzzles shows which cards you still need.

Grade selectively. High-grade creature and Ripley cards are the natural grading candidates. Most others can stay raw.

Why Alien Endures

Alien launched a franchise that's still going, with sequels, prequels, games and new films bringing in fans who weren't born in 1979. Each new release sends some of those fans back to the original. For collectors, the 1979 Topps set is the franchise's foundational card set, and it's still affordable enough to build in good condition.

Storage and Display

Standard sleeves and toploaders fit the cards and stickers. Nine-pocket pages work well for the set. For display, a frame with the Chest Burster, Space Jockey and Ripley cards makes a striking piece, and UV-protective glass keeps the red borders from fading.

Wax Packs and Wrappers

Unopened 1979 Alien wax packs and boxes are collected by both card collectors and Alien memorabilia fans. The wrapper art is a display piece in its own right. As with all vintage sealed product, buy only from trusted sources, since resealed packs exist across the hobby.

Pricing Alien Cards

Most singles are affordable, and the set is easy to complete in mid-grade condition. The price gaps come from the creature and Ripley cards and from condition. A sharp, well-centered #61 Chest Burster sells far above a typical copy. When you research prices, compare raw cards with raw sales and graded cards with graded sales, and check whether a "complete set" listing includes all 22 stickers.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many cards are in the 1979 Topps Alien set?

Eighty-four cards plus 22 stickers.

What is the key card in the 1979 Topps Alien set?

Card #61, The Chest Burster, is the scene most collectors want first. The #1 Nostromo card and the Space Jockey card are also popular.

What do the Alien puzzle backs show?

Pink-bordered pieces form the refinery, and blue-bordered pieces form the Space Jockey, the mummified alien pilot.

Are 1979 Alien cards rare?

Not in average condition. The set is easy to complete in mid-grade. High-grade copies of the creature and Ripley cards are the scarce ones.

Do the Alien cards come with stickers?

Yes. The set includes 22 stickers, and most collectors aim for a complete 84-card set with all 22.

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