“A long time ago in a bedroom far, far away….” there was a mini-me playing with what would now surely be the most collectible Star Wars action figures ever.
That child grew up into a budding collector who spent the best part of a decade hunting down boxed 1970s Star Wars toys like The Mandalorian hunts down bounties.
Anyway… these flashbacks of playing with rare Star Wars figures always trigger the same famous last words, “If only I had kept them boxed!”
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Rare Star Wars Toys
Memory is a tricky little thing because there’s no way I owned a super-rare 1978 Luke Skywalker action figure with the double-extending lightsaber. Nor is it possible I owned an original Darth Vader action figure!
FACT: The truly rare Star Wars collectibles, the most expensive Star Wars toys, worth BIG money are few and far between.
And this is one thing many 40-plus-year-old men convince themselves of, that they once had one of the super rare Star Wars action figures (I still do this on a bi-weekly basis).
The truth is most likely, if you were a child in the late 70s and 80s who was fortunate enough to have Star Wars action figures, there’s no way you’d keep them boxed.
FACT #2: They’re just too cool!
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Looking For Star Wars Toys Worth Money?
If you’re on the hunt, the most valuable vintage Star Wars figures remain boxed but finding them is the equivalent of:
- Playing roulette with authenticity.
- Paying ludicrous amounts (which is a problem – see #1).
- Waiting for a miracle (the equivalent of a barn find).
I’ve done all three and it’s why I stopped chasing rare 1970s Star Wars toys and switched to the 80s:
FACT #3: Between 2008 and 2015 I purchased two Boba Fett action figures (1979s):
- The first was a fake loose action figure that cost $25ish.
- The second, also a fake with arguably the most convincing boxing I had ever seen I should have known better as the price was $350.
A real 1979 Boba Fett in a good condition box is $1500-$3000 all day long. And that’s not even the super-rare version (keep swiping down to see).
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TIP: For anyone who is considering collecting Star Wars toys – focus on action figures that have their accessories!
At this point, loose 70s and 80s Star Wars toys still range in value from $20 – $200 without boxes. And with boxes $100 – $3,000 (and it seems to still be going up).
As for 90s Star Wars toys, their values are far lower. With boxed figures easily attainable between $10-$20.
TIP: 1990s Star Wars toy’s value may rise in a decade… No one knows. I’ve already picked up some of the rarer figures hoping they become valuable in the distant future.
I even picked up some of The Last Jedi figures as that movie caused quite a stir and toys tanked – which may cause future rarity and interest.
My point is that now might be the time to look out for tomorrow’s collectibles.
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The 5 Most Expensive Star Wars Action Figures
Here’s a tip for all future collectors – do your research!
FACT #4: Don’t rush to remove what might look like damaged packaging.
I picked up a mint condition blue Snaggletooth Star Wars action figure in 2011. It was in a Kenner baggie and it cost $100.
At the time of purchase, I had no idea that the baggie made it classified as boxed. If I had kept the baggie it would be worth $500 now. Fortunately, without the bag, it still remains worth $200ish.
To put the above into context, a Snaggletooth would be about #10 on this list.
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5. Boxed Vinyl Cape Jawa, $28,000
The mythical boxed vinyl cape Jawa. One of the most valuable Star Wars collectibles (beware of fakes on this one).
This Star Wars action figures value is all about its cape. When the toy first hit the market it had a vinyl cape, however, Kenner thought it made it look too cheap and switched the cape out for a cloth version.
A boxed Jawa in a cloth cape is $200-$400. A mint-boxed Jawa with a vinyl cape was sold at auction for $30,000 roughly (£21,000 GBP).
4. Vlix, $45,430
Who is Vlix? As someone who doesn’t remember the Droids series, this character is unknown to me. However, as a collector, I’ve been aware of it for a while. So here’s what you need to know:
- Droids was an animated show in the 80s.
- It focused on R2-D2 and C3PO’s adventures.
- This character was part of a second-wave line-up of Droids’ toys.
- The toy was only ever released in Brazil.
- At this point, the line-up was canceled.
This combination makes Vlix one of the most collectible Star Wars toys going. And one of the most expensive – sold for $45,430 back in 2018.
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3. Double Telescoping Darth Vader, $64,000
Two of the top-3 most expensive Star Wars figures have one thing in common. A double-extending telescopic lightsaber.
What’s most amazing about this 1977 Darth Vadar action figure is that it never made it to market. And that’s why it cost $64,900 at auction back in 2018.
2. Double Telescoping Obi-Wan, $76,000
This 1977 Obi-Wan Kenobi action figure has the same credentials as the above Darth Vadar. The only difference is that in 2018, a boxed Obi-Wan sold at auction for $76,700.
Clearly, the light side is stronger at auction!
1. Rocket Firing Boba Fett, $185,000
To this day I’m convinced I had a Boba Fett that fired rockets. And to this day I remain 100% wrong. How can I be certain? This rocket-firing bounty hunter never made it to market. It was scrapped.
The only versions of this toy that exist are prototypes spanning the different phases of production.
FACT: In 2019 this toy sold at auction for $185,850. Which is more than the value of my house.
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In Conclusion
Suffice it to say, I don’t own any of these top-5 most sought-after Star Wars toys. Further still, I never have and never will at those prices. And as a massive Star Wars fan, that fact is a little heartbreaking.
However, if you love Star Wars and collectibles, now is an expensive time to start collecting the old figures, so consider looking at later toys, or even the Black Series or The Vintage Collection (recent figures with fantastic likenesses).
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