Star Trek Inaugural Edition Card Set
Release Date: 1992
120 base card set
10 Cards Per Pack
36 Packs Per Box
Set Composition
Base Set-120 | Holograms-4 | 1:? |
Released in 1992, this set was the first card series dedicated solely to TNG. In a 120 card set, it covers the show up through the 5th season and offers detailed information on characters, ships, technology, trivia questions, equipment and behind the scenes information.
One subset in the common set consisted of 5 language cards 1A-1E. Card #1 featured the opening words from TOS and TNG in English. Cards 1A through 1E featured this same speech in 5 other languages. These cards appeared about as frequently as any of the other common sets.
The breakdown of the set is as follows:
- Commemorative cards
- Primary Crew cards
- Additional Character cards
- Starships cards
- U.S.S. Enterprise cards
- Equipment and Tool cards
- Regallia and Graphics cards
- Behind-the-Scenes cards
- Technical Data cards
- Trivia cards
- Checklists
- Bonus Cards
It was around this time that Impel began a name change over to SkyBox, so either of the two logos appear on the cards and misc. products
Inserts
The 4 holograms from this set form into a planet with the ships in orbit around it. As with the 25th Anniversary set, there are no stated odds on the packs. The holograms for this set, 1H-4H, were inadvertently printed with the common card numbers of 031, 033, 034 and 036. This error was corrected, so both numbering schemes exist. It is unknown how far through the print run the printers were when it was discovered during a routine box audit. Most collectors feel a complete set consists of both the errors and the corrected version.
Promos
There were two types of promo packs offered for this set the only difference being one pack had a title card and one did not.
- A 3-card promo pack
- A 4-card promo pack
Misc. Items
- A 5th hologram was available through a wrapper offer. This gold 5H Enterprise-D hologram sold direct from SkyBox for $2.
- There was also an offer for an official binder on the wrapper. The binder for this set is unique in that it has sides and when closed it makes into sort of a box.
- A limited edition tin set was released which included a certificate with a limited number, one full set, 5 holograms, the language set and one bonus card. This tin was limited to 10,000.
- Diamond Distributing shrink wrapped a gold hologram with their boxes.
- Uncut sheets of the common set were sold via QVC in the 90’s and are seen fairly regularly. Less often seen are uncut sheets of the holograms, error holograms and the 5-card gold sheet.
- Dealers were given an ad card called a Shelf Talker to promote the holograms. This card is 4×5 and includes another half inch to be folded over. This card advertises the mail-in 5th hologram for this set.
- The wrapper also included an offer for a mail-away paper checklist, It came in 4 variations. A few collectors report what appears to be obvious cheap copies and I’ve not included those. If you have one not listed, please contact the author.
- Paper checklist with a 1992 copyright date, Impel logo, non glossy paper, blue header with pink headings. Title of third category is Additional.
- Paper checklist with a 1992 copyright date, large SkyBox logo, non glossy paper, blue header. Title of third category is Additional.
- Paper checklist with a 1993 copyright date, large SkyBox logo, glossy paper, blue header. Title of third category is Additional.
- Paper checklist with a 1992 copyright date, SkyBox logo, glossy paper, blue header with pink headings. Title of third category is Support.
- Paper checklist with a 1992 copyright date, SkyBox logo, non glossy paper, blue header. Title of third category is Support.
Some cards listed in earlier versions of the paper checklists didn’t make the final cut, like Spot the cat. But we do not know if they were produced and not used or never produced at all.