A single owner collection of Star Wars, G.I. Joe, and wrestling toys is set to sell at Heritage in August. The auction items, which include Star Wars prototype action figures, could be worth $360,000.
The consignor, who wishes to remain anonymous, pursued rare examples of toys from the late 1970s. The collection is focused on Star Wars memorabilia, particularly main characters and pre-production material. Some of the major highlights from the collection are the Obi-Wan Kenobi hand-painted prototype from 1977 and one of five known Bib Fortuna prototypes, which is considered among the rarest of Star Wars figures.
“These early prototypes and test figures were made to perfect the stock eventually released to the public,” Aaron White, an expert in vintage comic books and original comic art at Heritage, said. “Star Wars action figures from the late 1970s and early 1980s are highly collectible, but these ‘first shot’ prototypes are glued and painted by hand, making them the most valuable figures you could ever own.”
The “first shot” prototypes were created to test toy molds and their functionality. These examples were graded by a third-party service that deemed them among the finest examples they have seen.
A rare 1977 Darth Vader action figure with double telescoping lightsaber is another key piece in the sale. Another rarity is the 1985 Canadian edition of a Yak Face figure that was only released in Canada and Australia; it is unopened and attached to a bilingual backing card.
“Demand for vintage Star Wars collectibles has increased after the release of the new films,” White said. “These figures have always been collectible, but in the last three years or so individual figures are now selling for five figures.”
Highlights also include a Boba Fett printer’s proof card depicting the original Revenge of the Jedi title and an engineering figure of the bounty hunter, a Jawa 12-back-C figure, and other early action figures from Masters of the Universe, G.I. Joe, and wrestling superstars toy lines.
The collection of action figures will be sold on August 2-4 as part of the Heritage Comics & Comic Art Auction live in Dallas, Texas, and online.
