By The newspaper
01 Feb 2024, 17:47 PM EST
In an exciting development for Star Wars collectors, a rare Jawa figure, originally priced at less than $2 nearly 45 years ago, has sold for a staggering nearly $25,000 at auction.
Discovered in the loft of Marvel UK’s former art director, this 1978 Palitoy Jawa figure is one of the rarest Star Wars collectibles, with possibly only ten remaining in existence.
The figure, still in its original packaging, was part of a promotional giveaway during the launch of the Star Wars line in Marvel comics. The seller, who had previously unearthed a similar figure, was ecstatic to find another treasure amidst his collection.
It is worth mentioning that Palitoy was a British toy company. It made some of the most popular toys in Britain, some original items and others under licence.
Fierce bidding leads to record Star Wars figure sale
The auction, organized by Excalibur Auctions, featured intense bidding from collectors around the world. However, it was a British collector who finally obtained the precious figure.
The auction house’s Jonathan Torode expressed his honor in handling such a sought-after piece of Star Wars toy history, emphasizing the continued popularity of original Star Wars memorabilia, according to specialty site Zenger News.
Considered one of the three rarest Star Wars figures worldwide and the rarest in the UK, the Jawa figure has achieved almost mythical status among collectors.
Its rarity is further accentuated by its original vinyl overlay, a feature replaced by a fabric overlay shortly after its initial production. The figure’s exceptional condition and its preservation on a Palitoy card, rarer than its American Kenner counterpart, increased its appeal and final auction price.
The history of Star Wars toys
The history of Star Wars toys is as fascinating as the saga itself, beginning in 1977 with the release of the first film in the franchise, “Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope.”
With the film’s unexpected success, demand for Star Wars-related merchandise skyrocketed, but toy maker Kenner Products was unprepared for the avalanche of interest.
This led to the innovative, but controversial “Early Bird Certificate Package”, an empty box with the promise of delivering action figures in 1978. Despite this unusual start, the toy line became a phenomenal success, creating a new It was in movie marketing and toy collecting.
Action figures of Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Princess Leia and many other characters became cult items, setting the standard for entertainment merchandise.
Over the decades, Star Wars toy production has evolved, spanning several generations and adapting to changes in popular culture and technology.
Following the relaunch of the saga with the prequel trilogy, beginning in 1999, and then with Disney’s acquisition of Lucasfilm in 2012, new toy lines were introduced to coincide with the films, television series and video games.
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