Star Wars spin-offs
Across the Pond, Morphy’s recent event yielded some desirable foreign Star Wars spinoffs – and, not being run-of-the-mill Kenner, they exceeded estimate.
The top lot of the sale was a group of five scarce carded Star Wars figures from Spain, from Kenner’s Empire Strikes Back series. The lot consisted of several characters, namely Chewbacca, Darth Vader, Denjar and two favourites identified by their Spanish names: Luke Caminacielos (Luke Skywalker) and Erredos-de-Dos (R2D2). All of the figures were in very good condition and sealed in plastic on their original cards. The group lot was bid to US$13,530, more than 22 times their original high estimate.
Of the individual figures offered, the one attracting the most interest was a 1979 Kenner Star Wars Boba Fett 21 Back-C action figure in mint condition, encapsulated in a new-style case. One of the most captivating of all characters in the vast Star Wars universe, the figure offered by Morphy’s sold for a strong US$7,995.
Another outer space dweller was a very rare Alps battery-operated Missile Robot, which appeared to be in unused condition. The 15 inch missile-shooting robot was presented in perfect order, with its original dish antenna and original pictorial box with factory cardboard inserts.
Against a US$3,0006,000 estimate, the immaculate mid-century robot commanded a winning bid of US$11,685.
A bona fide antique that is very seldom seen in the marketplace was the tin mechanical bank known as the Man in the Garden. Produced by German manufacturer Gebruder Bing, it depicted a charming scene of a gentleman in his garden, wearing a proper apron and hat and carrying a watering can as he tended to his flowers. Estimated at US$4,000-7,000, it came to rest at US$10,800. ■