DALLAS, TX.- He was a scrappy young farmboy from a rock in the middle of nowhere when Luke Skywalker got called up to the big leagues. And by the time he retired from public life, the hard-swinging righty with the robot hand spent his entire career with the Rebel Alliance, establishing himself as one of the universe’s greatest Jedis alongside teammates Han Solo, Leia Organa, a hirsute slugger named Chewbacca and two wisecracking utility droids as they downed the Galactic Empire after decades of hard-fought battles.

Heritage offers one of the few finest-known examples of Skywalker’s rookie cards for the first time ever: a 1977 Topps Star Wars Series 1 graded Gem Mint 10 by PSA. Only nine examples exist — and this one’s perhaps the most coveted in this galaxy or any other, as it bears an added MBA Gold Diamond certifying that it’s virtually perfect.

Luke’s card, No. 1 in the series, isn’t even the rarest in Heritage’s Star Wars Trading Cards Showcase Auction, which takes place on Nov. 9. That would be the Luke Skywalker No. 1 sticker from that same sought-after series — the only one graded PSA Gem Mint 10, also bearing that MBA Gold Diamond. It’s expected to realize more than $100,000.

In all, there are 182 PSA Gem Mint 10s available in this event from that beloved, legendary 1977 Topps Star Wars trading card series, which sparked four more series and “earned its place as one of the most cherished and iconic releases in the history of the hobby,” says Jeremy J. J. Allen, Heritage’s Assistant Director of Popular Culture.

“This exceptional collection not only pays homage to the roots of a franchise that has captivated fans for more than 40 years, but it has also become a revered trading card icon in its own right,” Allen says. “Much like George Lucas’ first entry in the space opera’s saga, Topps’ initial foray into Star Wars trading cards was an instant sensation.”

Among the most desirable offerings is this mother — or, more accurately — father of Star Wars cards: “The villainous Darth Vader,” also in a PSA Gem Mint 10, one of five at this grade. Here, too, is the card that always shoots first: from Series 1, “Harrison Ford as Han Solo,” one of just 13 graded at PSA Gem Mint 10. And tying them all together is Princess Leia Organa herself, one of only a dozen cards from Series 1 bestowed a PSA Gem Mint 10.

“The rarity of PSA 10-rated cards lies in the delicate nature of their colorful borders, which are susceptible to wear,” Allen says. “It’s important to remember, too, that trading cards were seen more as toys than collectibles back in those days. No one put them in sleeves. They were meant to be handled, played with.”