Quick. Think of one actor who’s in Close Encounters. Chances are, you thought of Richard Dreyfuss (“the guy from Jaws” is also acceptable). From chasing spaceships to playing with his mashed potatoes, he’s the movie’s lead. And yet Dreyfuss is nowhere to be found on any of the 1978 Topps Close Encounters of the Third Kind trading cards. This fact alone makes it one of the most curious mainstream sets from the era.
1978 Topps Close Encounters of the Third Kind Checklist Details
The main base set consists of 66 cards, which really isn’t a lot for such an epic film. But, without its lead star, it limits the story that can be told. Even with a modestly sized checklist, several of the spaceship look nearly identical. The aliens also have some very similar shots featured.
Still, Topps manages to do what it can with the visuals, showcasing other stars like Melinda Dillon and Terri Garr. Perhaps the most notable card belongs to its director, Steven Spielberg. This appears is his first mainstream trading card.
Backs are a mix of write-ups that delve into things a little more than the short captions on the front and puzzle pieces.
The black borders make damage easily noticeable, even when it’s a small mark.
Joining the base set are the customary Stickers. Landing one per pack, there are 11 in the set. Images carry over from the base set. A couple have captions but most do not. These take on the standard sticker design from Topps with a kiss cut image surrounded by a thick inner border. The cards have a black backdrop.
1978 Topps Close Encounters of the Third Kind remains fairly available today. Coming out in the wake of Star Wars may have had something to do with it. Being a hot blockbuster also helps. Prices for sets and boxes are solid but not overly expensive. The greater challenge is finding top-condition singles.
This isn’t the only set of 1978 Close Encounters trading cards. Wonder Bread did cards as a premium inside their loaves of bread.
1978 Topps Close Encounters of the Third Kind Checklist
Click on the links to shop for cards on eBay or to check current market values.
Set size: 66 cards
Cards per pack: 8
Packs per box: 36
Boxes per case: 16
Shop for 1978 Topps Close Encounters of the Third Kind boxes and packs on eBay.
Base Set Checklist
66 cards.
Buy on eBay:
1 Vanished Planes Reappear in the Desert!
2 Monitoring a UFO
3 UFO’s Disrupt Telephone Service
4 Neary’s Truck Is Engulfed in Eerie Lights!
5 Strange Disturbances Caused by the UFO’s
6 Ear-splitting Sounds from the Saucer!
7 A Confused Ronnie Tries to Comfort Her Children
8 Fear of the Unknown Grips Ronnie!
9 Jillian Guiler Searches for Her Little Boy
10 Returning Home
11 Jillian at Devil’s Tower
12 Highway Encounter
13 It’s Like Halloween…for Grown-ups!
14 Image of the Devil’s Tower
15 Display of Cosmic Beauty
16 Jillian Senses the Approach of a UFO!
17 A Frightened Jillian Calls for Help!
18 The Aliens Arrive
19 Unearthly Light Bathes Jillian’s Home
20 The Aliens Seek a Subject
21 Scout Ships Arrive at Devil’s Tower
22 Alien Visitors at the Door
23 Aliens in the Eyes of Innocence
24 Jillian’s Child Is Kidnapped by the Aliens
25 Exciting New Star Melinda Dillon
26 Teri Garr Stars as Ronnie Neary
27 Jillian and the Devil’s Tower
28 National Guard Alert!
29 Closing Off the Area for the Aliens’ Arrival
30 Speeding Toward the Devil’s Tower
31 Midnight Trek
32 A Contaminated Area…Or Is It?
33 A Masked Jillian Pushes Onward!
34 Melinda Dillon Stars as Jillian Guiler
35 Climbing to the Top of Devil’s Tower!
36 Jillian Hides from Military ‘copters!
37 Earth Scientists Await the Aliens
38 Keep Watching the Skies…
39 A Great Event in the History of Man Begins
40 The Giant Spacecraft Dwarfs the Devil’s Tower!
41 The Mother Ship Appears!
42 Awesome Spectacle of the Mother Ship!
43 Man Stares in Wonder at the Giant Spaceship!
44 The Implanted Image
45 The Spacecraft Prepares to Land
46 Scientists Gather Around the Mother Ship
47 Fantastic Underside of the Giant Starship!
48 Jillian and Her Son Observe the Incredible Event!
49 Scientists of the World Stare in Wonder!
50 Releasing Abducted Humans from the Past
51 The Aliens Appear!
52 Earthmen Watch the Strange, Childlike Aliens!
53 Aliens Walk Among the Humans!
54 The Bizarre but Benevolent Space Visitors
55 The Alien Visitors!
56 Her Son Returned, Jillian Watches the Aliens in Awe!
57 The Alien Leader Materializes
58 Goodwill Toward the People of Earth!
59 Friendship Lies in the Outer Reaches of Space!
60 Steven Spielberg, Director of Close Encounters
61 The Landing–a Moment of Triumph and Beauty
62 Small Spaceships Hail the Aliens’ Arrival
63 The Road to Tomorrow
64 The Mother Ship Releases Smaller Vehicles
65 Artist’s Conception of the Mother Ship
66 We Are Not Alone!!!
Stickers Checklist
11 cards.
1 per pack.
1 Greetings from the Limitless Universe
2 Jillian
3 Lights in Sky
4 Lights in Sky Above Devil’s Tower
5 Spaceship Above Devil’s Tower
6 Road Leading to Devil’s Tower with Spaceship
7 Mothership Releasing Small Vehicles
8 Mothership
9 Barry
10 Crowd Watching Ship Land
11 Mothership Landing
