Last year, Rittenhouse Archives launched the most comprehensive Battlestar Galactica set to date with The Complete Battlestar Galactica Trading Cards. (Released On 01.28.2004) This 72-card series covers all 24 episodes of the original Battlestar Galactica series with all new images never before printed on trading cards. Each box contains 40 packs and each pack contains six regular and one parallel card. This all-new series contains at least 2 hand-signed autographs per box!.

Rittenhouse Archives is pleased to announce that the lead stars of Battlestar Galactica, Richard Hatch and Dirk Benedict, will be signing autograph cards for this series. More than a dozen total actors will also be signing cards for this series including Noah Hathaway (Boxey), Laurette Spang (Cassiopeia), Herb Jefferson Jr. (Lt. Boomer), Laurette Spang (Cassiopeia), Patrick Macnee (Cout Iblis), Jack Stauffer (Lt. Bojay), Lance LeGault (Maga), Audrey Landers (Miri) and more!

Besides autograph cards, fans can chase after several exciting levels of chase cards including:

Galactica 1980 - a 20-card set covering the 10 episodes of the short-lived second Battlestar Galatica series featuring many of the original cast including Lorne Green as well as new cast members Kent McCord and Barry Van Dyke. 1:3 packs

Colonial Warriors - a 9-card set that will spotlight the brave Colonial Warriors of the Galactica. 1:10 packs

Matt Busch ArtiFEX™ - a 6-card set featuring the artwork of artist Matt Busch. 1:20 packs.

SketchaFEX™ - several artist have lent their talent and imagination to this series and put their pencils, pens and colors to cards to produce some of the most exciting sketchaFEX™ cards to date. 1:120 packs.

An exclusive collector's album will also be made available for The Complete Battlestar Galactica Trading Cards and will come with 12 9-pocket plastic pages, a bonus promo card and an exclusive Commander Adama (Lorne Greene) costume card.

Each box of The Complete Battlestar Galactica Trading Cards will contain 40 packs with a suggested retail price of $2.00 per pack and $80.00 per box.

A "Hands On" Review

While this product was released some time ago, I have just now finally gotten my hands on a box to review. When I was a kid I actually bought some of the TOPPS trading cards in the wax wrappers. So getting ahold of a brand new box of trading cards was a real treat. Long gone are the pink bubble gum and stickers! These cards are slicks and well produced. I can imagine that in 20 years from now when people go back to revisit their collection that these cards will still look sharp.

Each pack comes in a nice silver foil wrapper. It's a good idea to count the cards as you pull them out of the foil - as the cards tend to slightly stick to each other and you might miss out on a card because it's hidden behind another one. However after you pull them apart, they don't restick so thats not a problem beyond first pulling them out.

I like the idea of mixing up the cards with special cards. Every time you open a pack you might find yourself hoping to discover that Apollo autograph card or perhaps a sketch card. So far I have found my 2 autograph cards (no I didn't find an Apollo, or Starbuck one) and so far I've stumbled across one sketch card. The 1980 cards are also a real nice touch as that series never did get a card set as far as I know. However so far all the 1980 cards I've come across don't feature any of the actors, just cylons and ships - still nice to include.

I was a little suprised by the 2 dollar a pack price, but after seeing the cards up close I think its safe to say that your getting some high quality cards. It looks like they went all out on these sets and I have to admit they have won me over with them. I'd love to get some more boxes and hunt for more autograph cards! One can only hope they continue on with this line in the "classic" Battlestar realm.

There was a notice included at the bottom of the box. Due to circumstances beyond our control, Autograph cards A8 (Alex Hyde-White) and A12 (Jane Seymour) will not be included in this trading card series.

Good Job Rittenhouse!

Written by Mike McAdams

About Rittenhouse Archives, Ltd

Rittenhouse Archives, Ltd. is a leading producer of science fiction and fantasy based trading cards and related collectables. Its licenses include Star Trek, James Bond, Xena: Warrior Princess, Stargate SG-1, Farscape, Twilight Zone, Six Million Dollar Man, Fantasy Worlds of Irwin Allen, Planet of the Apes, The Outer Limits and Conan. Visit www.scifihobby.com for more information.