Kings Langley auctioneers were in shock after a toy “left in a drawer” turned out to be worth £15,000.
One of the world’s “rarest carded Star Wars figures”, a Palitoy Jawa with a vinyl cape in exceptional condition, was brought into Excalibur Auctions in Primrose Hill, Kings Langley, by Marvel’s former art director.
He had visited to discuss a set of comics and some artwork but decided to also bring along the figure he had found in a drawer on a whim, after forgetting all about it.
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Jonathan Torode, who will auction the toy, said: “It was one of those ‘we’ll have a look at it… is it… can it be… let’s just go and double check and make sure it is what we think it is…’.”
Once the collectables and memorabilia specialists knew for sure what they had, he said there were “some slightly shaky hands” as they went to break the news.
“Fortunately, he was sitting down already when we told him it's one of the rarest in existence,” Jonathan added.
The figure will go on sale at the Toys & Model Railways Collectors Sale on Saturday, July 22, in Kings Langley, with collectors around the world expected to enter bids.
The valuation was set at between £10,000 and £15,000 but this was described as "cautious", and it could go for more as another Palitoy Star Wars Jawa figure sold for £21,600 in 2017.
Up until around seven to eight years ago the very existence of the figures was disputed and it was seen as a myth among collectors.
Production of the vinyl caped toys was halted “not long into production” because an employee thought it looked cheap and cloth capes were used instead, Jonathan explained, adding that there are around 10-15 documented examples.
The seller served as Marvel’s art director for five years between 1974 and 1979 and received the figure as a gift during the promotion of the Star Wars line in Marvel’s comics.
Limited viewing times are available this week ahead of the auction, as well as remote viewings via zoom.
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