Although Star Trek card sets were produced in the 60's, 70's, and 80's, most people would point
to the 1991 Impel set as the beginning of their Trek card collection. This 310-card set was released
as part of the large 25th Anniversary of Star Trek celebrated that year, and featured cards covering
the characters, actors, technology, episodes and memorabilia. The complete set covers both the Next
Generation (TNG) and Original Series (TOS) with separate packs for both. Series One had 160 regular
cards and two holograms. Series Two had 150 cards and two holos. The holograms were randomly inserted
into packs and there were no stated odds of how easy they were to pull.
A wrapper offer made available an album and paper checklists. As it was uncommon at the time to collect these items, not many collectors picked them up, making them more of a rare find these days.
A limited edition tin set (15,000 produced) with the full set and 4 holograms also included two exclusive cards, a B1 and B2. Prices had shot up as high as $120 after the release, but the tin set can now be found for about $25.
The cards in this set did well at catching the overall flavor of TOS and TNG and all its various aspects. Even today, cards from this series are often taken to conventions for signings. Not all images are of the best quality and the layout of the set is haphazard. The production run was much too large in relation to the demand for the product. Boxes were eventually dumped into the market in large quantities, thereby devaluing the sets and boxes forever. Overall, though, Impel's first foray into the Trek card world was a good one, and the company would continue to offer Star Trek cards throughout the rest of the decade.
| Statistics: | Original 1991 Price | Current Price | |
| Company | Impel | ||
| Release Date | |||
| Series One | July 1991 | ||
| Series Two | Oct 1991 | ||
| Cards in the Set | 310 | $30 | $5 |
| Inserts-holograms | 4 | $25 ea. | $4 |
| Cards per pack | 12 | $1 | |
| Packs in Box | 36 | $35 | $5 |
| Album | $35 | $75 | |
| Tin Set | $65 | $25 |