Hundreds of lots of Star Wars action figures, toys, and related memorabilia are featured in Hake’s Auction #237. The rare Australian Jawa vinyl cape variety and a pair of Ewoks Series 2 first shot prototype sales samples for unproduced figures are leading the sale, with tons of other impressive pieces to follow.

Hake’s has another Jawa 12-back-A CAS 85 with the vinyl cape from Kenner’s first wave of figures. This version of the 2-1/4” tall Jawa figure has the vinyl cape that was soon replaced by a cloth cape.

Multiple prototype pieces are in the auction, such as the See Threepio (C-3PO) 12” Series Carbalon hard copy head and torso front prototypes. The complete head stands 4-1/2” tall including casting stem, the front of which has been carved away. The head prototype front of Threepio’s face is gray carbalon while the back and stem are tan. The torso prototype is a 4-3/4” tall front portion of C-3PO’s torso that has brownish finish while grayish color appears on flat back.

The R2-D2 first shot action figure with silk screened decal and legs variety AFA 80 is a very early prototype example and is similar to what was used for photography of the Early Bird Kit. This 2-1/4” first shot figure also features a leg variety that was not produced for the final productions toyline as well as a large, non-production screw on the underside/interior. While all prototypes for Kenner’s first 12 Star Wars action figures are rare, this item predates the release of the Early Bird Kit.

The Star Wars Tusken Raider 20-back mock-up proof card AFA 80 is an early example made before the “Tusken Raider” name was changed to “Sand People” on the production cards. The ways this card was altered for the mock-up include the LP logo was airbrushed over, creating an expanded image, masking tape was placed at the upper left corner edge to cover the original SKU, and the white price box was airbrushed black.

On the marketing side, Hake’s has a Star Wars Action Figures 1978 bell hanger advertising store display sign AFA 90 with the original shipping carton and hardware. The 18” x 20-1/4” cardboard hanging sign depicts the first 12 action figures, among which are the vinyl cape Jawa, and double-telescoping varieties of Luke Skywalker, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Darth Vader.

One of the prominent loose action figures is the Hong Kong Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi with the double-telescoping lightsaber AFA 80+. This early version of the 3-3/4” figure comes with the lightsaber that has a second extendable piece.

From later in the original figure run, Hake’s has a Power of the Force Yak Face 92-back AFA 80 from Kenner’s Canadian line. The 4” tall figure with matching aluminum collectors coin is the most desirable of the last 17 vintage figures and was only released in foreign outlets.

Star Wars auction highlights also include a Death Star Space Station playset AFA 80; Droid Set 3-Pack Series 2 AFA 75+ with R5-D4, Death Star Droid, and Power Droid; Empire Strikes Back IG-88 first shot unpainted figure AFA 80+; and Popy Empire Strikes Back Boba Fett AFA 85.

Additional featured material is the Empire Strikes Back rocket-firing Boba Fett 1979 and ’80 toy fair catalogs transparency; Empire Strikes Back Hoth Battle/Star Destroyer double-sided ad sign AFA 85; and Return of the Jedi C-3PO Collector’s Case off-white prototype first shot.

Hake’s Auction #237 is closing soon on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 21-22, 2023.