Jawa, Jabba, Amidala: Star Wars characters are a collectible crew

While the latest installment in the “Star Wars” saga continues to make headlines with box-office sales, toy enthusiasts know the tie-ins related to the stellar series have been newsmakers in collector circles since the early 1980s. But collectors aren’t clamoring to get their hands on “Attack of the Clones” collectible items — at least not yet. Instead, they have a hankering for the past when it comes to purchasing “Star Wars” memorabilia. “The items that are getting the most attention are vintage ‘Star Wars’ items,” said Merry Dudley, “Star Wars” consultant for Toy Shop magazine. “Mint on Card action figures, meaning those still in their original packaging, for the first ‘Star Wars’ movie are gathering strong interest with bidders. There is mild interest in ‘Attack of the Clones’ variations, but since most items can still be found at retail, many of these auctions are ending without bids. “The secondary market for ‘The Phantom Menace’ is stagnant, since many collectors are holding on to their figures in the hopes that prices will rise. Current market value of most ‘Phantom Menace’ figures is retail price for carded figures, and virtually non-existent for loose items.” An eBay search for “Star Wars” during the last week of May revealed a crowded marketplace. SuperSeller, a newsletter for online auctioneers, reported nearly 49,000 auctions were live May 30. Nearly 108,000 completed Star Wars auctions were completed between May 14 and May 30, with the highest-priced item (five life-sized figures) selling for more than $3,500. Dudley said one collectible item buyers and sellers should keep an eye on is a magnetic hand and lightsaber feature. “There are plenty of collectors who can’t resist trying out this new feature,” she said. “Consequently, many Obi-Wan Kenobi, Anakin Skywalker and Mace Windu figures will not remain Mint in Pack. If Hasbro keeps production numbers low, then these products have the potential to increase in value over the next decade.” Though the market has declined from its peak of a few years ago, rare Kenner action figures from 1977 can still cost thousands of dollars if they are in their original packaging. “The vinyl-caped Jawa is worth $2,000, and it isn’t the most valuable,” said Tom Bartsch, associate editor of Toy Shop magazine. “The Luke Skywalker figure with a telescoping light saber tops the list at $3,300.” Though not reaching quite so stellar heights, toys from the second and third films are also highly collectible. The 1981 Yoda figure from The Empire Strikes Back can reach $150. From Return of the Jedi, a 1983 Luke dressed as a Jedi knight with a blue saber is valued at $120. The same Luke with a green saber commands up to $65. But how collectible Padme, Jango Fett and the other figures now hitting store shelves? Bartsch’s predictions run along the same lines as Dudley’s. “Remember that the main reason the original toys are so collectible is because they were taken out of the package and played with,” said Bartsch. “While children might still play with their Star Wars action figures, their parents are stashing unopened toys in the attic. Don’t expect your Obi-Wan figure to put your kids through college.” Of the small-format action figures from Episode I, a battle-ready Queen Amidala tops the value chart at $23. “Darth Maul is the most popular character from Episode I and could easily have eclipsed Boba Fett as the favorite of true fans if Hasbro hadn’t overproduced the new toys,” said Elizabeth Stephan, editor of the book 2002 Toys & Prices. The 1978 Bobba Fett can bring $860 mint in the package. Top value for a Darth Maul figure is $25. Stephan notes that some characters, namely Jar-Jar Binks, were so unpopular among collectors that the toys have no secondary market value. Early Star Wars toys won’t vary much from their current values, according to Stephan. While certainly collectible, she expects values for the prequel toys to stay low. With any luck, all those mint-on-card Annakins and Clone Troopers will make their way into the hands of children who will play with them. Only then will the toys’ long-term values increase. Copyright 2002 by Krause Publications. For a free catalog of Krause Publications books or periodicals on collectibles, write Public Relations, Dept. IC, Krause Publications, 700 E. State St., Iola, WI 54990-0001, or visit www.collect.com on the worldwide web, or e-mail info@krause.com.