When it comes to making toys, it can be a tricky process. You always have to think about how kids are going to react and play with them, especially if they’re tiny. Small pieces can result in choking hazards, and for a Boba Fett action figure in the 1970s, that was the fear.
When the creators made a quick change to the toy before sending it out to the public, they had no idea it would result in it becoming the most valuable vintage toy ever sold in an auction. Here’s everything that we know about the auction of the Boba Fett action figure, and why it’s the most valuable toy ever.
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Who Is Boba Fett?
Science fiction and fantasy fans probably have heard of the name Boba Fett. The fictional bounty hunter in the Star Wars universe is an unaltered genetic clone of his father, Jango Fett, who learned combat and martial skills from a young age. He became a legend through contracts with the Empire and the criminal underworld. Fett was featured in both the original and prequel film trilogies, as well as in books, comics, television series, and video games.
He’s also been part of the live-action Disney series, The Mandalorian, and the spin-off series of that show called The Book of Boba Fett, where he assumes control over Tatooine with his partner Fennec Shand as the planet’s new daimyo. Suffice it to say, a Boba Fett action figure is heavily sought-after and valuable thanks to his many appearances.
Boba Fett Action Figure Sold
May 31st, 2024 marked the day that the world’s smallest bounty hunter became the most valuable vintage toy in the world. Heritage Auction held its first Star Wars auction where several Star Wars-related props and collectibles are available for bidding.
Some featured items include the lightsaber wielded by Kylo Ren himself in Star Wars: Episode VIII – The Last Jedi priced at $50,000, and the Resistance helmet in Star Wars: Episode VII – The Force Awakens for $5,000. But the true highlight item that has been sold is the 3 3/4-inch tall Boba Fett action figure that sold for an astounding $525,000.
The action figure was created by Kenner around the 1970s as part of a collection with 20 other action figures from the movie. Jacob Miles, a former Kenner Engineer, spoke on the collection, along with the details surrounding Boba Fett and his popularity.
The price doubled the record of the most expensive Star Wars action figure sold at auction, which was originally held by a rocket-firing Boba Fett that sold for $236,000 in 2022.
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Why Is a Boba Fett Action Figure Valuable?
The collection features all mini action figures that were created to encourage children to collect them. While there were around 20 in total, the rare and elusive Boba Fett was not on the market. Instead, he was a prize that you could get if you purchased four or more action figures in the collection.
But that’s not the real reason why the Boba Fett action figure is so valuable. The iconic rocket-loaded Boba Fett never reached anyone’s hands. Launchers on toys back then were not deemed safe, especially for children, due to choking hazards. The only reason that Kenner made the product was because they noticed competitor Mattel’s Battlestar Galactica was doing their own version.
However, by the time Boba Fett was ready to be released as a prize, Battlestar Galatic started having issues. Therefore, Kenner had to rush to create a product that didn’t feature the launcher, and thus sent out boxes with a note explaining that it’s been removed for safety reasons.
So not only was the Boba Fett action figure not sold to the public, but the intact launcher wasn’t even released. This means only two remain of the complete product, with one now being the most valuable vintage toy in the world.
What Was the Most Valuable Toy?
The previous holder for the most expensive vintage toy in the world was a Barbie, a one-of-a-kind 1-carat-diamond-wearing Barbie that sold for $302,000. Thanks to the Boba Fett action figure selling this past Friday, Barbie is no longer the champion for the most valuable vintage toy.
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