Most relic cards give you a swatch of fabric or a chip of prop. Masterwork does something stranger and, honestly, cooler: it takes the actual pen an actor used to sign, cuts a piece of it, and embeds it right next to their autograph. That’s a Pen Autograph Relic, and in 2025 Topps Star Wars Masterwork there are 85 of them, every single one a 1/1. No parallels, no reprints, just one copy on the planet per signer.
For a certain kind of collector, that’s the holy grail: a signature and a piece of the moment it was created, fused into a single one-of-one. This guide breaks down exactly what these cards are, who signed, how they fit into the wider set, and how to chase them without getting burned. Consider it your field guide to the most unusual hit in high-end Star Wars.
| PEN AUTOGRAPH RELICS AT A GLANCE | |
| Product | 2025 Topps Star Wars Masterwork (Hobby) |
| Released | June 3, 2026 (presale May 4 via EQL raffle) |
| Box price | $439.99 presale / $449.99 release |
| Base set | 100 key Star Wars characters |
| The star card | Pen Autograph Relics, 85 signers, all 1/1 |
| What’s inside | A piece of the actual pen used to sign the card |
| Guaranteed per box | At least 2 autographs + 2 more hits |
What Are Star Wars Masterwork Pen Autograph Relics?
They’re one-of-one autograph cards that embed a physical piece of the pen used to sign that very card, pairing the signature with the tool that made it. Pen Autograph Relics have been a Masterwork staple since the brand launched in 2015, and for 2025 the concept returns with 85 different signers, each card a true 1/1.
That combination is what makes them special. A normal on-card auto proves the actor signed it. A pen relic goes a step further and gives you a tangible piece of the signing itself. Because there’s only one copy per signer, you’re not chasing a numbered run, you’re chasing the only one that will ever exist. Here’s the set in numbers:
| 85 Pen relic signers | 1/1 Every pen relic | 100 Base cards | 200+ Sketch artists |
Key figures for 2025 Topps Star Wars Masterwork, per Beckett and checklist trackers.
“One signature, one pen, one copy, the pen relic is as close to a singular artifact as a modern card gets.”
Who Signed the 2025 Pen Relics?
The signer pool spans classic-trilogy legends, prequel and sequel stars, and a strong class of first-time signers, which is exactly what makes a 1/1 pen relic exciting, because a debut signature on a one-of-one is about as scarce as autographs get. The wider Masterwork autograph checklist this year includes names like:
- Classic icons, Mark Hamill (Luke Skywalker), Samuel L. Jackson (Mace Windu), Warwick Davis (Wicket), and other franchise mainstays.
- Modern-era stars, Rosario Dawson (Ahsoka) and Freddie Prinze Jr. (Kanan Jarrus) among the recent-show talent.
- First-time signers, Joseph Gordon-Levitt, Lucy Liu and Alison Brie, whose debut autographs are especially notable on a 1/1.
Not every signer on the broader autograph checklist necessarily appears as a pen relic, and because these are 1/1s, availability is a matter of luck and timing on the secondary market. If a specific signer is your target, patience is your friend, there is quite literally only one to find.
For a sense of which Star Wars signatures carry the most weight over time, our rundown of the most valuable Star Wars cards is a useful companion read.
How Do Pen Relics Fit Into the Rest of Masterwork?
Pen relics are the signature novelty, but Masterwork is a deep, multi-layered product, every hobby box guarantees at least two autographs plus two more hits, so there’s always something happening. Around the pen relics sits a full ecosystem of autographs, relics, sketches and inserts.
Autographs Beyond the Pen Relics
On-card autographs headline, but the multi-signature cards are where things escalate: Duo, Trio and Quad Autographs stack signers together, and the Ultimate Book Card Autographs open up to reveal ten signatures on a single piece. For autograph chasers, Masterwork is one of the richest ink pools in the hobby.
Relics and Film Cels
Memorabilia runs deep too, with prop relics drawn from recent Disney+ shows, The Mandalorian, Ahsoka, Andor and Skeleton Crew, available in both plain and autographed versions. The crown jewels are the Return of the Jedi Film Cel Relics: actual frames from a film print, all 1/1s, with rare autographed versions in the mix.
Sketches and Inserts
Hand-drawn Sketch Cards from more than 200 artists round out the 1/1 hits, and the insert lineup is loaded: Fall of the Chosen One chronicles Anakin’s turn to Vader with cards designed to grow darker as the story progresses, alongside Short Circuit (droids), a ten-card BB-8 set, Under Disguise, Galactic Die-Cut Pods and a Lothal Jedi Temple puzzle.
Chase note: Fall of the Chosen One Of the inserts, Fall of the Chosen One is the fan favorite, a chronological retelling of Anakin Skywalker’s descent, with each card printed a shade darker than the last to visualize the pull of the dark side. It’s the insert most collectors actually want to complete.
Pen Relic vs Standard Auto: What Actually Sets Them Apart?
A standard autograph proves a signature; a pen relic proves the signature and hands you the instrument that made it, as a guaranteed one-of-one. That extra layer is small on paper but big in feel, and it changes how the card behaves on the market. Here’s the honest side-by-side:
| Feature | Standard on-card auto | Pen Autograph Relic |
| Signature | Yes, signed on the card | Yes, signed on the card |
| Extra element | None | A physical piece of the signing pen |
| Print run | Often numbered or unnumbered | Always 1/1, one copy, ever |
| Chase feel | Collect a run or a parallel | Hunt the single copy that exists |
| Typical premium | Baseline | Higher, for novelty + 1/1 scarcity |
The takeaway is simple: a pen relic isn’t just a rarer autograph, it’s a different kind of object. You’re buying the story of the signing, not only the signature, and for the right collector, that story is worth the premium. For everyone else, a standard auto of the same actor delivers the signature at a friendlier price, which is a perfectly good way to collect.
How Rare Are the Parallels?
Outside the 1/1 hits, the base parallels form a clean rarity ladder from a /299 Rainbow Foil down to one-of-one Gold Metal and Printing Plates. If you like chasing a rainbow of a favorite character, this is your map:
| Parallel | Serial number | Approx. odds |
| Rainbow Foil | /299 | 1:7 packs |
| Canvas | /25 | 1:87 packs |
| Wood | /10 | 1:217 packs |
| Metal | /5 | 1:433 packs |
| Gold Metal | 1/1 | 1:2,149 packs |
| Printing Plates | 1/1 | 1:543 packs |
Base parallel ladder and odds per checklist trackers. Pen Autograph Relics sit outside this ladder as standalone 1/1s.
How Should You Chase and Protect Pen Relics?
Because these are irreplaceable 1/1s, the smart approach is part strategy, part due diligence, verify before you buy, and protect the moment it’s yours. Run through this checklist before chasing one on the secondary market:
- Confirm it’s a genuine Pen Autograph Relic, not a standard auto or auto-relic, read the card description and numbering carefully.
- Verify the Topps authentication and any certification details, since 1/1s attract counterfeits.
- Check the autograph placement and pen-piece window for damage, condition matters even more on a one-of-one.
- Compare against recent sold prices for that signer’s other Masterwork hits, not hopeful asking prices.
- Once it’s yours, sleeve and store it immediately, and consider grading for a marquee signer.
If you’re new to authenticating premium Star Wars cards, our guide to grading and authenticating Star Wars cards walks through what to check and when a slab is worth it. And if the 200-plus sketch artists caught your eye, see how sketch value works in our guide to finding hidden-gem sketch cards.
Are Pen Autograph Relics Worth It?
If you love singular, one-of-a-kind pieces and have the budget for high-end Star Wars, a pen relic is one of the most special cards you can own, but it’s a want, not a need, and the price reflects the novelty and the 1/1 scarcity. My honest take is that these are trophy cards: you buy them because a specific signer means something to you, not because you expect a quick flip.
At $449.99 a box with pen relics landing as tough 1/1 pulls, ripping wax specifically for one is a long shot. For most collectors, targeting the exact pen relic you want on the secondary market is smarter than chasing it through boxes, the same logic that applies to any marquee 1/1. Buy the moment you care about, protect it, and let its rarity be the reward. And remember that condition still matters even on a one-of-one: a soft corner or a scuffed pen window can meaningfully soften what an otherwise irreplaceable card is worth, so inspect before you commit.
For the bigger picture on where premium modern Star Wars sits, our overview of modern Star Wars sets and their unique inserts puts Masterwork in context alongside the year’s other releases.
Final Thoughts
My honest take: Pen Autograph Relics are one of the most genuinely creative ideas in the modern hobby. Embedding the signing pen turns an autograph into an artifact, and doing it as 85 individual 1/1s means each one is truly singular, there’s no “numbered to 25” safety net, just a single card and whoever’s lucky enough to own it.
If a particular Star Wars actor means something to you, a pen relic is about as personal as a card can get. Just chase it with clear eyes: know it’s a trophy, verify authenticity before you buy, and protect it like the one-of-one it is. In a hobby full of parallels and reprints, there’s something powerful about owning the only one, and that’s exactly what these cards offer.
Checklists, parallels, odds and pricing are subject to change; details reflect Beckett and checklist trackers at time of writing. This is collector information, not investment advice. Verified against Beckett, Topps, Steel City Collectibles and checklist trackers for 2025 Topps Star Wars Masterwork.
External reference: For source context, see Topps Star Wars product information.