A long time ago, in a galaxy not so far away, George Lucas revolutionized the world of popular science fiction with the cinema event of 1977 – Star Wars: A New Hope.  With its unforgettable universe of characters, Star Wars made an indelible mark on American and global pop culture and inspired a panorama of collectibles and other licensed items that continues to this day. 

On June 23 through September 15, 2007, Geppi's Entertainment Museum invited fans to celebrate three decades of space opera adventures through a special exhibit of Star Wars toys, comics, household items and much more. The Force is with Us: 30 Years of Star Wars sought to illustrate to the public, through a display of products and collectibles, the impact the Star Wars saga has had on popular culture. The Force is with Us: 30 Years of Star Wars kicked off on June 20, 2007 with an invitation-only preview for the local press and dedicated Star Wars fans.

The collection featured in the exhibit came to GEM courtesy of Thomas G. Atkinson, director of the Star Toys Museum in Baltimore. The GEM exhibit drew from a dazzling collection that featured a complete set of Kenner's coveted action figures from the years 1978 through 1985, a collection in and of itself. Visitors were also offered the chance to view the first-ever lightsaber toy – inflatable, no less – customized model vans, record albums, 8-track tapes and primitive electronic games; an array of foreign-made items; and some early unlicensed articles released before licensing protocols were widely recognized.

Over 10 years later, Hake’s Americana & Collectibles presented the Star Wars Collection of Russell Branton. Getting in on the action, GEM offered collectors and fans the chance to see the incredible, high grade collectibles in person at the museum. A selection of over 50 pieces, including AFA-graded Kenner items, were on display at GEM, starting with a life-size Boba Fett in the lobby. That life-size figure led up to the rare Boba Fett rocket-firing prototype action figure, which was on display at the 1979 Toy Fair in New York City. 

“So many people have been telling us that this is the greatest collection of super rare toys that they have ever seen. Even the collectors who are stopping by the museum, from all over the country, said they never knew many of the items even existed outside of a museum,” GEM Collections and Exhibits Manager Mike Solof said of the exhibit.

Additional items featured in the exhibit were 12-backs of Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Chewbacca, R2-D2, C-3PO, plus a Death Squad Commander, vinyl cape Jawa, Sand People, and a Stormtrooper. Power of the Force Han Solo in carbonite, Luke Skywalker Stormtrooper, the Emperor, and Lando Calrissian General Pilot were also displayed.

“Everyone is a ‘fan of Star Wars’ but ‘Star Wars Fans’ have been the ones most impressed, with not only the rarity of some of the items in Mr. Branton’s collection/the exhibit, but the condition of the collection which is truly Near Mint,” GEM Collections and Exhibits Assistant Manager Anthony Pollutra said.

Proof cards for Princess Leia, Boba Fett, Walrus Man, and Bespin Luke as well as 12” series Princess Leia, Chewbacca, and Boba Fett were also available for viewing. As well as a heroes three-pack of Leia, Han, and Ben and the villain three-pack of Boba Fett, Sand People, and Snaggletooth. Other pieces included Star Wars #1 CGC 9.6, Tatooine Skiff Vehicle, three-position laser rifle, Micro Collection Death Star Compactor, Imperial Attack Base, radio controlled Jawa Sandcrawler, TIE Interceptor, Slave 1, and Star Wars Van Set.

Since the first Star Wars film premiered, the empire has grown to include seven more films, an animated feature film, two anthology films, cartoons, TV specials, books, magazines, toys and collectibles of every conceivable category. With Lucasfilm already planning for future films in 2019, 2020, and beyond, the mammoth franchise shows absolutely no signs of slowing down.

But with so much information covering the over 40 years of Star Wars history, where can collectors turn for guidance? The Overstreet Price Guide to Star Wars Collectibles by Gemstone Publishing Associate Editor Amanda Sheriff and Overstreet founder Robert M. Overstreet, of course! Through market reports and in-depth pricing, the book studies and collates thousands of values within a wide variety of Star Wars collectibles.

Along with a comprehensive presence of comic book pricing, the book will also cover novels, pop-up books, original art from comics, animation, and games, movie poster coverage, autographs, screen-used items, production material, action figures, playsets, and other toys released in conjunction with the films. There will be a history of the series, collecting tips, interviews with collectors and dealers, and so much more!

Finding Star Wars collectible prices will be easier than destroying the Death Star with an X-Wing fighter in The Overstreet Price Guide to Star Wars Collectibles, hitting shelves in November 2018. 

Editor’s Note: Throughout the previous weeks, we have had retrospectives of some of the great exhibits and events held at Geppi’s Entertainment Museum, which closed to the public on June 3, 2018 in advance of Steve Geppi’s donation of comic books, original comic book and comic strip art, and other vintage pop culture treasures to the Library of Congress. Items from his gift to the nation will be on display at the Library of Congress beginning in Fall 2018. 

Other Installments in our Retrospective Series
Geppi’s Entertainment Museum in Photos - Part I
Zombie Gras
Atlas At Last 
Artistry of Amanda Conner 
Cosplay Masquerade 
Little Heroes 
Alice in Wonderland
Weddings 
Awesome Con 
Halloween ComicFest 
Milestones