The promotional Star Wars glasses offered by Burger King from 1977 to 1983 have always been a part of my collection in some varying configuration, albeit in an incomplete state. As a child, I collected a number of them as they were released and had since lost them to breakage, wear. They were well used as I had little regard for collectible value, or foresight for the nostalgia they would represent one day in the future.
In my early adult years, I found a Lando Carissian glass at a Salvation Army and immediately purchased it for under a dollar. A few years later, a friend gave me three more glasses from Star Wars and The Empire Strikes Back, unwittingly planting a seed from which a slow obsessive nag began to build. To feel right with the world, I’d need to complete the collection!
Over the years, I’ve slowly added to my collection, holding out for especially good deals on eBay or Etsy. The final piece, a glass featuring Darth Vader and Boba Fett, arrived in today’s mail. Witness my emotional journey in the photo set below.
Step 1: Obsess over the missing glass
Step 2: Find the glass for a steal on eBay
Step 3: Purchase the glass
Step 4: A package arrives in the mail
Step 5: Open the package to find the glass safe and sound
Step 6: Unite the final glass with the collection. Find a new obsession
I find it odd, yet fortuitous that these glasses are so inexpensive for fragile items of their age. As it’s been said, something is only worth what someone is willing to pay for it.
Enjoy this 1977 Burger King commercial for the first set of glasses.
I would love all of these – and def had at least two or three as a kid. But I know I would break a few. Awesome collection.
With this collection completed, I moved on to original Battlestar Galactica glasses. There’s always something to obsess about.
You have quite a collection – is it complete? I haven’t been able to get a complete list of the original series by Burger King. Any info you could give me would be greatly appreciated.
As far as I know, it is complete. Burger King offered four glasses for each movie. There’s more info here.
Thank you.
Hi… where did you get the tiered display case where the glasses sit on?
I don’t recall, sorry. Probably just the result of an extensive Google search.
Was pleased to hear your story..I am the artist who created the Empire… working for Anchor Hocking who was engaged by Burger King.
Amazing. To create something so important to so many.
You are responsible for the Empire Glasses? I’d love to know more.
This is me. I have collected them over the years, and have them on display, but I am still missing Star Wars Luke. I know I can get it anytime on eBay, but I am scared of the feeling of being “complete”