Hake’s Auctions completed their fall premier auction on November 14-15, 2023, bringing in $2.4 million in sales from historical and Americana to pop culture memorabilia. Once again, many of the highest selling items were among the Star Wars lots of action figures and other toys.

A Star Wars Early Bird Mailer Kit featuring the first action figures AFA 85 NM+ soared well beyond its $10,000 estimate to sell for $25,570. The kit includes Luke Skywalker with the double-telescoping lightsaber, Princess Leia, Chewbacca, and R2-D2 in a vacuform plastic tray and the original white mailing box.

One of the littlest Star Wars figures brought two big prices in the auction. The Jawa 12-back with the vinyl cape AFA 85 reached $23,837, surpassing the $20,000 estimate; and an AFA 70 example sold for $10,384. The 2-1/4” tall figure features the vinyl cape that was used before it was swapped for the more commonly seen cloth cape.

The 12 Action Figures long display header AFA 80 that advertises Kenner’s first wave of Star Wars action figures released in 1978 cleared $20,060. The 11-3/4” x 35-1/2” long header features large “Star Wars Action Figures” text alongside images of the first 12 figures – Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Han Solo, Chewbacca, C-3PO, R2-D2, Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Stormtrooper, Jawa, Sand People, and Death Squad Commander.

A loose Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi Hong Kong figure (double-telescoping) AFA 80 brought $16,354. This early example of the figure comes with the double-telescoping lightsaber that features a second extendable piece.

Boba Fett had notable sales, including the 21-back-B AFA 85 on a partially punched card with an attached hang tab for $13,711. A Star Wars: Droids Boba Fett AFA 80 Hong Kong figure sold for $12,331, besting the $10,000 estimate.

The Power of the Force Anakin Skywalker 92-back AFA 75 went for $12,980. This figure from later in Kenner’s original run features the figure and aluminum collectors coin on an unpunched card.

Darth Vader accounted for several top sales, starting with the TIE Fighter CAS 75 special offer battle scene setting version that doubled the preauction estimate of $5,000 when it sold for $10,595.

The Return of the Jedi Darth Vader Collector’s Case gold prototype first shot AFA 75 realized $9,851. With a vacuum metallized gold finish over rare white plastic case, it was likely a mold test for the C-3PO Collector’s Case. While other Darth Vader Collector’s Case prototypes were made in dull gold and ivory, they were never produced in these colors for the sales market.

A Darth Vader (Kara Lider) Turkish Uzay AFA 80 figure from the unlicensed Star Wars line hammered for $9,735. Produced by SB Products in 1988, this line has become a favorite with collectors due to the bizarre modifications and sometimes humorous card art.

All of the top results in Part I and Part II from Hake’s Auction #239 can be viewed at hakes.com.