Hake’s Auctions opened their premier Auction #243 on March 4, 2025, presenting a cavalcade of pop culture and Americana collectibles. The 1,449-lot auction has something for every type of collector from campaign buttons to comic books, vintage baseball memorabilia to 1980s action figures.

Hake’s has established a reputation for offering top notch Star Wars toys and memorabilia in their auctions. For this premier event, not only do they have the rare, sought after toys, they are also selling a selection of key Star Wars original art pages and covers from very early in the first comic book series that began in the late 1970s.

The listings begin with Howard Chaykin’s original art from the very first issue of the comic series. Star Wars #1 page 16 comes from Part 1 of the Star Wars: A New Hope movie adaptation, featuring seven panels from two scenes in the movie. 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.

“Very few pages of original art from the six film adaptation issues of Star Wars have ever come to market, and this is one of the most important in our opinion,” per Hake’s description. “This piece (and other Star Wars original art offered in this auction) is fresh to market and this is its first time at auction. All came from one collector, and each is an incredible find, none more so than this page from the very first issue of Marvel’s iconic Star Wars comic book series.”

Jumping across the pond, Hake’s is also selling the Star Wars Weekly #7 cover by Gil Kane from Marvel UK’s Star Wars comic series. The UK comic reprinted the American Star Wars comics, though in smaller segments so that the movie adaptation was told over 12 issues instead of the original six. It featured eight covers exclusively available in the UK, including this cover showing Luke Skywalker, Han Solo, Princess Leia, and Chewbacca. Trapped in the Death Star garbage compactor, Han tries to save Luke who is being attacked by the Dianoga monster.

Hake’s has back to back original pages from Star Wars #5 by Chaykin. From Part 5 of the New Hope adaptation, page 15 features 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. Page 16 has five panels with Leia annoyed at Han, followed by Han and Luke discussing Han’s chances with the princess, much to Luke’s dismay.

The Star Wars Weekly #15 cover by Jeff Aclin puts Chewbacca front and center. This issue tells the first half of the story published in Star Wars #8 in the US, which introduced original comic characters like Jaxxon and Don-Wan Kihotay. The cover features Chewbacca battling an alien in the foreground while Han Solo is being attacked by three aliens in the background.

In addition to the comic art, Hake’s is also selling a Star Wars Holiday Special Boba Fett and Stormtroopers production animation three-cel setup and painted background. 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.

Hake’s Auction #243 is now open for bids at hakes.com and will close on Tuesday and Wednesday, March 25-26, 2025.