Hake’s Auctions’ first Premier event of 2025 soared to $2.2 million when it closed on March 25-26. Featuring 1,449 lots of pop culture and Americana collectibles, Auction #243 inspired competitive bidding on political material, original comic art, action figures, baseball cards, and plenty more.

Star Wars represented several of the auction’s best sellers, led by the Luke Skywalker 12-back-A AFA 85 with double-telescoping lightsaber that hammered for $84,370, well beyond the $50,000 estimate. This early figure of Luke features the double-telescoping lightsaber that has a second extendable piece. It was only available on three figures – Luke, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Darth Vader – and only saw a short release window before lightsabers were modified to be one piece. According to Hake’s, at the time of cataloging there were only three examples on a 12-back-A card graded AFA 85 with just one higher in AFA’s Population Report.

Howard Chaykin’s original art from Star Wars #1 page 16, the very first issue of the comic series, saw competitive bidding push it to $80,476. The page comes from Part 1 of the Star Wars: A New Hope movie adaptation, featuring seven panels from two scenes in the film. The first group of panels shows Darth Vader with Grand Moff Tarkin and the Imperial commanders where he Force chokes Rear Admiral Motti. The second group follows C-3PO and R2-D2 on board the Jawa Sandcrawler. Vader appears in four panels and the Rebel Droids appear in two.

Star Wars #5 page 15, another page by Chaykin, more than doubled its $20,000 estimate when it cleared $42,834. From Part 5 of the New Hope adaptation, it shows five panels on the Millenium Falcon with Han Solo and Princess Leia arguing over Han staying with the Rebellion. Chewbacca appears piloting the Falcon and Luke is in the final panel.

The Star Wars Holiday Special Boba Fett and Stormtroopers production animation three-cel setup and painted background went for $39,804, nearly quadrupling its $10,000 estimate. Set after A New Hope, the Star Wars Holiday Special aired on CBS in 1978 and contained an animated segment that introduced Boba Fett. The hand-painted production animation cel setup shows the popular bounty hunter with Wookie braids, as he appeared in the special, next to two Stormtroopers.

The important W.H. Harrison 1840 log cabin hard cider barrel stoneware bank in cobalt blue sold for $53,971, more than double the $20,000 estimate. The highly detailed bank has text across the roof panels that read “William Henry Harrison/President In 1841/With Tip And Tyler/We’ll Burst Vans Boiler/Log Cabin” and “Harrison The Hero Of/Tippecanoe Fort Meigs And/The Thames Against Van/Buren The Demagogue/Of Kinderhook/Hurrah For Old Tip The/Farmer Of North Bend.” This 4-1/4” x 5-3/4” x 6-3/4” bank has never been publicly available, making this a very are opportunity for collectors.

Superhero art was also a big hit with the Aurora Incredible Hulk model kit box lid original art by Neal Adams that reached $32,204. The 12-1/2” x 24-1/2” artboard mounted to slightly larger illustration board features mixed media original art with an image area measuring approximately 8-3/4” x 23”. The art was created for use on the lid to Aurora model kits that were released in 1966, showing the Hulk standing amid twisted wreckage and two smoking craters with his fists clenched, an angry snarl on his face.

The auction offered a group of action figure prototypes, including examples of the Mego Star Trek Aliens prototype test shots. The 8” Mugato prototype with apparent hand-painted color differences sold for $31,576 and the 8” tall Romulan that has a few differences from the finished product saw $30,961. The 8” Andorian that differs from the final version with die-cut diamonds on its costume hit $29,548 and the 6-3/4” Talos with a completely different costume realized $28,506. All three crushed their $10,000 estimates. The figures obtained from a former Mego designer are one of a kind early test shots that were used in promotional photography to sell the line.

The 1940 Leader Novelty Candy Co. Superman card #36 CGC 1.5 saw very competitive bidding when it flew to $29,538, decimating the $2,000 estimate. This rare card titled “Mountain Tragedy” was the final card in the set of 36. At the time of the auction, it was the only example graded by any third party service. It came from the Danny Fuchs Collection.

Many of the biggest results from the historical section of the auction sold for well beyond their estimates. The Roosevelt “A Square Deal” button from 1912 nearly doubled its $10,000 estimate when it realized $19,485. The largest size of this rare button, it has an attractive design with a portrait of Teddy Roosevelt with a patriotic shield behind him.

A rare “For President and Preparedness Give Me Wilson” button went for $15,576, well over the $10,000 estimate. Made for the 1916 election, the button has a portrait of Woodrow Wilson flanked by four American flags, six rifles with bayonets, a cannon, and a snare drum.

Estimate-breaking political sales continued with the Breckinridge & Lane 1860 Grand National Banner print by Currier that brought $12,546, over the $5,000 estimate. The John Quincy Adams sulfide portrait glass sunburst in Parisian gilt frame sold for more than quadruple its $2,000 estimate when it reached $9,280. A Roosevelt “I Am Ready to Vote for Teddy” rare 1912 button totaled 9,093, nearly double the $5,000 estimate.

Baseball collectibles hit several home runs, including the circa 1960s Ciudad Trujillo Champions team photo PSA Type IV when it sold for $7,211, surpassing its $5,000 estimate. Featuring Hall of Famers Josh Gibson, Satchel Paige, and Cool Papa Bell, the photo shows the 1937-1938 team posed on the ballfield.

A 1946-1947 Almanaque #A-8 hand-cut Buck O’Neill rookie card sold for $6,035 (besting the $2,000 estimate), a 1949-1950 Toleteros Williard Brown black sleeves variety card PSA 1 brought $4,956, and a 1952 Victoria #106 Orestes Minoso rookie card PSA Authentic reached $4,543 (over the $2,000 estimate).

All of the results from Hake’s Auction #243 can be viewed on their website.