It’s Star Wars Week here at Collectors’ Quest, and as a longtime Star Wars collector, I’m psyched.
Because the universe of Star Wars toys is so ridiculously vast, I have to limit myself to those things concerning the Original Trilogy, as well as the occasional awesome alien, robot or Jedi. That’s it. You won’t find any Clone Troopers in my collection – no Jar Jars or Wattos, and no Anakins unless they’re bald, old or wearing big, black helmets. I follow a bastardized version of the old poison ivy credo – ‘Not original three, let it be.’ It’s saved me from both poverty and unsightly rashes.
While I don’t own anything especially rare, there’s a short list of action figures that most collectors know about and will keep their eyes open for at a tag sale. Keep in mind that we’re talking about the figures that are roughly 3.75” tall here – the scale that the Star Wars line was introduced in.
Before I count down the list (in no particular order), it’s important to note that I’m only including action figures that were produced and released to the public. The legendary ‘Rocket Firing Boba Fett‘ which allegedly choked a 3-year old child with its projectile was never actually produced, though a handful of unpainted prototypes exist (which have gone for $16,000 of more). These were never sold in stores – and the unfortunately airway-obscuring projectile was actually fired from a Battlestar Galactica toy made by Mattel.
1. Blue Snaggletooth (1978)
‘Blue Snaggletooth’ was released in 1978 by Kenner as part of the very first Star Wars figure set, both as a Sears mail-away figure and with the Cantina Adventure Set. When Kenner created this figure, all the modelers had to go on was a black and white photo of the creature’s upper body from ‘A New Hope’, and as a result, the figure differed significantly from the actual character – which was red, barefoot, and a whole lot shorter. Upon realizing this, all figures of Snaggletooth (also known by his Christian name, Takeel) after 1978 were remodeled to appear more film-accurate. While not overwhelmingly rare, this figure fetches prices up to $100 when loose, and over $400 while still sealed.
Recently, Medicom’s fifth line of Star Wars Kubricks even paid tribute to this collecting phenomenon by including a secret, super-rare Blue Snaggletooth figure, which itself fetches prices over $100.
2. Vinyl-Caped Jawa (1978)
Usually regarded as the second-rarest produced figure, the Vinyl-Caped Jawa was the result of a running change in Kenner’s production. The Jawas were released as part of the original 12 Star Wars figures in 1978, though because they were relatively small (even compared to the 4-inch standard of the line), Kenner wanted to give the consumer more bang for their $1.99. In order to make the figure appear more complete and a comparable value when displayed with the rest of the line, they replaced the cheap-looking plastic cape with a sewn fabric cape, which adorned all future Jawas after that initial batch.
That would be that, but toy once profiteers saw that this original Jawa was increasing in value on the collectors’ market, the forgeries began. With little more than an average cloth-robed Jawa figure and a piece of cheap, brown vinyl, people started cobbling together their own ‘VC’ Jawas and passing them off as original. Fortunately, today we have the proper dissemination of information regarding this, and there are extremely detailed webpages detailing the minutae of each version of the Jawa, from how the tiny eyes were painted to mp3s of the sound that your fingernail makes when running across the vinyl. Yeah, Star Wars collectors are wacky. It’s probably the only non-geological item that’s analyzed with a scratch test.
A loose, authenticated Jawa can net you about $1000, while a sealed and authenticated Jawa will get you about $2000. Authentication is important for these figures especially, due to the high rate of forgery. Even unauthenticated figures get get a few hundred bucks. I swear that I played with one of these as a kid.
Of course, we can presuppose that the fake Jawa sellers are only operating in the spirit of the Jawas themselves, who tried pawning off broken droids to the Lars family on Tattooine. If the Jawas had access to the internet, and were real, and could read, they’d surely be giggling and shouting ‘UTINNI!’ at the whole debacle.
3-5. Telescoping Lightsaber Luke / Obi-Wan / Darth Vader (1978)
Right after Star Wars was released in 1977, kids were abuzz for action figures. Because Kenner wasn’t prepared for the popularity of the movie and the Christmas toy interest that it would produce, they instead sold boxed certificates which would entitle the bearer to a complete set of the first four Star Wars figures ever – an ‘Early Bird’ set that included Leia, Chewbacca, R2-D2 and Luke. The box that the certificate was delivered in also functioned as a display base, but the glee of Christmas morning often caused this box to be torn wildly open, so very few exist intact today – and almost none of the mailed in certificates. All those happy, tearing hands finding coupons inside of otherwise potentially valuable boxes – a Christmas morning that sends shivers through the Star Wars collecting world. Forget about the joylessness of a coupon – that box was worth something!
This earliest figure of Luke had a unique feature that wouldn’t be repeated in later Lukes : his lightsaber would extend from his arm, and a tiny little plastic blade would then extend again from within that saber. This ‘double telescoping’ feature would be repeated in the first editions of Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Vader. These tiny inner-blades proved to be very fragile and not really convincing as action features, so they were quickly phased out.
Of the three, Luke is the most common, and I distinctly recall playing with just such a Luke as a child, amid the piles of Micronauts and Star Wars guys that my uncle had collected. I also remember stepping on an X-Wing, my uncle freaking out, and chewing on the end of Luke’s rare telescoping lightsaber – well before I knew the potential investment in treating your Star Wars guys kindly, of course. It’s the kind of moment you relive in your head with great regret. A loose telescoping Luke will get you around $600, if it’s in great condition, and only about 15 sealed examples are known to exist.
‘DT’ Vaders and Obi-Wans very rarely even surface, and when they do, a sealed one will earn you about $7000 or more.
Stay tuned for the rest of the countdown!
September 9th, 2008 at 11:49 AM
I have a 1977 Obi-Wan with retractable saber, loose with no cape in excellent cond. Does this have any value similar to the 1978 Obi-Wan?
Thanks, Andrew
September 15th, 2008 at 8:36 PM
Your web page is amazing. I bought several of these figures a few weeks after I saw
the first Star Wars movie. They are still in their original package. I recall them being
reduced because they missed the Xmas sale. I used my gas money to purchase them!
I am considering putting the items on e-bay and your page is so helpful. I have:
Obi-Wan AND Darth Vader w/ telescoping lightsabers in orig. packages, as well as Leia in her package. All have C 1977 Twentieth Century Fox Film Corp. I have five other
figures, not sure of their value. Empire Strikes back: Lando, C-3PO, Yoda in pkg.
Also, Return of Jedi: Chewbacca, Rancor Keeper. I also have Blue Snaggletooth, loose and in very good condition. Any advice, direction on where I can look to pin down the value of my tiny collection would be very appreciated. Is it better to sell as a collection?
THANK YOU, DB
September 15th, 2008 at 9:07 PM
Ahoy! With toys of this caliber, especially in original packaging, I’d almost suggest getting them professionally graded at AFA (http://www.toygrader.com/). I’m usually against toy grading, but having these particular guys professionally assessed can make their value double and triple to other serious collectors, who want to know EXACTLY what they’re getting, especially in the thousands-of-dollars range.
It’s not a cheap thing to get them graded, but original packaging early SW figures? Probably worth the investment if you intend on selling them. And definitely go individually with these, as many collectors will be piecing their vintage sets together slowly, and will not want to repeat on figures that they already have just because they’re sold as a set. I’d guess that this method of collecting is more common than the collector who wants a BUNCH at once suddenly.
Also, check out BriansToys.com, as they’re like the epicenter of all rare Star Wars toy trading, and they also buy toys – though you’ll probably get better prices at auction.
Good luck, and come on back! I’d like to hear about your experiences with these once you get the selling process moving. Might even be worth an interview!
May 31st, 2009 at 11:26 PM
I have a 1977 Lobot empire strikes back and he is still in the package and has two left arms? Could he be worth anything at all?
June 23rd, 2009 at 7:07 PM
hi yourwritings are very good i just found my sons figures when he was 4. thats 1977. we have the full collection from jawa to darth vadar.i am new at this but can you tell me how i would go about finding about them .their all original.thanks rich
July 27th, 2009 at 4:41 PM
Hello, I collected these figures like crazy…tell me if i was the only one who would was would beg my mother to take me to the store before it was opened so that i could have first dibs on the new figures? I would even hide the one i wanted behind all the repeats so i could raise some money and come get it later…some good memory in an otherwise violent childhood…
To pay my mortgage now at age 40…i need to sell my “first 12″ starting with those from 1978. I never played with them, but i did unpack them to display in my room.
I have kept them in sepporate zip lock bags including their card backing with photo.
Darth is actually the one in best condition…and obi-wan…and boba fett.
How do I find a professional collector in Portland, Oregon who is willing to pay what they are worth. Many thanks…
July 28th, 2009 at 1:57 PM
well i just found tons of star wars figures in mom and dad’s attick. they are in a sears carring case. it was cool to see these figures after 32 years or so. needless to say they are in a controlled enviornment now . man i think i have a small GOLD mine now.
August 12th, 2009 at 9:09 AM
Hi. I am an original Star Wars collector from 1977. I have been collecting for over 30 years. I wanted to comment on a couple of misconceptions in the world of original Star Wars figure collecting. First and most important, there were millions of these figures produced and sold all over the world. Just because you find your old collection in the attic does not mean you have a gold mine and you can fund your retirement. What makes some of these so valuable is the fact that not many were left unplayed with. Many had the accessories lost or damaged and the figures were played with. Only the mint and complete figures hold any real value (most of them only around 10 to 20 dollars) excluding the rares mentioned on this website. The point is that very few remain mint and complete and even fewer remain in the original packages. These are the ones that are valuable. Remember nearly every kid had these figures back in the day. Secondly people need to learn the difference between telescoping and sliding lightsabers. What does a telescope do? It collapses down using multiple pieces that fit into one another. What does a sliding lightsaber do? It slides into the arm of the figure. Huge difference.
August 12th, 2009 at 10:34 AM
Tony, this list takes into account the idea that figures in better condition are very obviously worth more. Almost all of the figures on this list WERE produced in lower quantities, and not ‘in the millions’. This is kind of a general statement that goes for every collectible, ever. If it’s beat up or used, it’s worth less.
I also believe that the article properly describes the ‘telescoping’ action that differentiates between the two types of figures. The list is meant to describe the figures that ARE worth something.
I’m not sure if you’re criticizing or clarifying things that have already been addressed on the site elsewhere!
August 22nd, 2009 at 2:28 PM
hello – I have all 12 of the kennett 1977 star wars action heros unopened in the original packages and I have the 1977 star wars micro machines, series V, XII, and XIII also unopened in the original packaging. how can i find out the value of these items?
Thanks – Robin
November 26th, 2009 at 10:46 AM
i have a original jawa but it dosent have the cloak or gun i used to have all the figures but lost most over the years. i have this figure with a blonde hair and beard blue helmet blue vest n green trousers i dont kno who he is tho…..
February 21st, 2010 at 6:17 AM
I have a 1977 obi -wan with extenable light saber but he is with out his vinyl cape any idea what it is worth.
February 28th, 2010 at 11:23 AM
I have an original trilogy ghost/adult Anakin Skywalker that I remember getting as part of a mail-in offer. It’s in great condition, and I’ve never seen it listed on a Star Wars website. Am I the only one who has this? I’d be willing to part with it- better to let it complete someone else’s collection then just sit in my closet. Have you heard of this figure?
February 28th, 2010 at 12:10 PM
Perhaps you’re thinking of the 1997 Frito-Lay figure of ‘Spirit Anakin’, which is unfortunately only worth about 4 bucks on a really good day. This one is a translucent blue.
There’s also the solid-looking Anakin mail-away from the POTF line in 1985 – this link should help you find more info!
http://theswca.com/images-speci/mailaways/anakin.html
March 10th, 2010 at 1:00 PM
My son has an Obi Wan original like the picture-Not boxed, but in excellent condition. Any idea of it's worth?
March 12th, 2010 at 7:42 AM
There have been many, many different Obi-Wan figures over the years, all very similar – though the very first one is the only one to have the double-telescoping Lightsaber action – one blade pops out, and then another tiny one. If you have this, there are less than a dozen in the world, presumably – so rare that there aren’t even any on eBay in recent memory! I would venture a guess around the $1000 mark, though the economy has had a way of making these numbers fluctuate wildly.