Rare Star Wars figures hotly anticipated at Vectis sale

The Vectis TV and Film related sale at the end of April was highly anticipated because it contained some extremely rare Star Wars collectables. Forget the 3 3/4 inch figures (of which there was no shortage), this time around it was all about masters or bucks, as they are known.

A Kenner Palitoy Star Wars Return of the Jedi Logray prototype resin master tooling aid figure, in excellent condition, started the fun. This was one of several to have been sent to the Palitoy tooling manager in the early 1980s by Kenner and they were used in the production of the beryllium copper castings (which would in turn be used to make the production injection moulds). As such, here were real slices of Star Wars history – and interest was appropriately intense. The first was knocked down for £12,000; the second, a Royal Guard model from the same film, was bid all the way to £28,800 but even that was eclipsed by the Bib Fortuna master, which achieved a stunning £36,000. Not bad for a small selection of plastic figures, I think you’ll agree.

Other notable results included the Tri-Logo Luke Skywalker Bespin 3 3/4" vintage figure, described as mint, within a near mint bubble, upon a punched 79 back card. Estimated at £500-700, it was taken to £1,080. The Darth Vader 3 3/4" vintage figure, again mint, but within a fair to good (dented) bubble, upon an unpunched 12 back card realised £720; whilst £1,020 was the winning bid on The Empire Strikes Back vintage Bossk 3 3/4" figure. Also mint, in a good bubble and on a punched 41B card back, it had come from an ex-Palitoy employee.