I have always loved the 1963 Topps Astronauts set because it pre-dated the famous Apollo program and so we are strictly dealing with Gemini-era astronauts that sometimes get overlooked in their importance in reaching the moon.
There is a wide range in value for mint cards but most "loved" versions (like my John Glenn "Space Hero" above) can be found for $10 and less if you have patience in searching on eBay. The set is 55 cards in size (plus a set of 3-D glasses that help you see an image on the reverse side of the card) just like the 1962 Mars Attacks series from the previous years. There is a also a reverse side variation that features an add for Popsicles instead of the 3-D image.
1963 Topps Astronaut Needs List
Updated: 10-18-20
Missing either brand
1, 4, 5, 6, 7, 9, 10, 18, 26, 30, 35, 48
1 Picking the Astronaut Team
2 Floating Astronauts [3D and Popsicle]
3 Testing the Chimps [Popsicle]
4 In Orbit [Coming from eBay]
5 Recovery Training
6 Space Explorers
7 The Seven Astronauts
8 Takeoff Inspection [Popsicle]
9 Training the Astronaut
10 Astronaut Alan Shepard
11 The First US Astronaut [Popsicle]
12 Awaiting the Take-Off [3D]
13 Shepard in Space [Popsicle]
14 Picking Up Shepard [Popsicle]
15 Successful Recovery [3D and Popsicle]
16 Carrying the Capsule [Popsicle]
17 Back from Space [3D and Popsicle]
18 Astronaut Virgil Grissom
19 Reporting New Information [Popsicle]
20 Spacesuit Checkup [Popsicle]
21 Grissom in Space [Popsicle]
22 Putting on a Space Helmet [Popsicle]
23 Putting on His Parachute [3D and Popsicle]
24 Grissom in a Pressure Suit [eBay]
25 Final Checkup
26 Grissom Awaits Countdown
27 Grissom Gets Ready [Popsicle]
28 2nd US Spaceman [Popsicle]
29 Grissom Blasts Off [3D and Popsicle]
30 Grissom in Space
31 Mercury Atlas 4 [3D and Popsicle]
32 Astronaut John Glenn [Popsicle]
33 Glenn and the F-106 [Popsicle]
34 Space hero
35 Glenn & Grissom
36 Taking a Break [Popsicle] [3D at COMC]
37 Rest Day for Glenn [3D and Popsicle]
38 Getting Into the Suit [3D and Popsicle]
39 Checking His Suit [3D and Popsicle]
40 Inside the Test Chamber [3D and Popsicle]
41 Glenn in Training [Popsicle]
42 Posing for Photographers [3D]
43 Studying His Maps [Popsicle] [3D at COMC]
44 Before Glenn's Take-Off [Popsicle]
45 Glenn in Space [Popsicle]
46 1st Man in Orbit [Popsicle]
47 Glenn Meets the President [Popsicle]
48 Our 1st Spacemen
49 Astronaut Carpenter [3D and Popsicle
50 Carpenter Checks His Suit [Popsicle]
51 Astronaut Donald Slayton [3D and Popsicle]
52 Astronaut Gordon Cooper [Popsicle]
53 Astronaut Walter Schirra [3D at COMC]
54 Astronauts in Flight Suits
55 Checklist
Extra: 3-D glasses [at COMC]
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