Collectables to Jedi for
With the new film in cinemas this month, Star Wars memorabilia is still a Force to be reckoned with
AS A lifelong James Bond man, the release of SPECTRE was my most anticipated movie of the year. In my youth, I used to be able to reel off what each initial of the acronym stands for.
For every one of me, though, I suspect there are two fans counting down the hours before Star Wars: The Force Awakens hits big screens later this month.
That both have generated a massive spin-off industry in merchandising and collecting should come as no surprise.
Intended to appeal to those in the camp of the former are products such as beer and vodka, watches, aftershave and, naturally, cars, (I particularly fancy a Scalextric Aston Martin DB10 made by our very own Hornby), while millions will change hands this Christmas for Star Wars toys (who could resist a Sphero BB-8 talking droid toy? It’s currently £150 on Amazon).
Auction houses have been quick to cotton on to this global phenomenon and the sway rare early and limited edition collectables have over fans of epics like Star Wars. Even Sotheby’s has got in on the act.
In a first for the top people’s auction house, more than 600 original action figures, replica Darth Vader helmets, autographed lightsabers, vintage film posters and even a Jabba the Hutt cookie jar are set to be sold in an online auction on Friday, December 11. Estimates ranged from $100 up to $35,000.
The sale was billed as the “Return of the Nigo” and that meant nothing to me either. Born Tomoaki Nagao in 1970, it turns out Nigo is a Japanese designer, music producer DJ and entrepreneur – he speaks little or no English – who launched the hugely successful clothing lines A Bathing Ape, Ice Cream, and Billionaire Boys Club (co-founded with friend and collaborator, the singer Pharrell Williams).
In his spare time, he collects toys and figurines, his hobby since the age of six, amassing what the auction house reckons is one of the most acclaimed collections of Star Wars rarities.
Among his favourite characters is Boba Fett, the bounty hunter who was instructed by Darth Vader to hunt down Han Solo.
The sale features more than 50 variations of the action figure, described as the “next major villain after Vader”.
Five unopened Star Wars action figures dating from 1978, estimate $4,000-6,000
Above left: Darth Vader’s signed helmet from Revenge of the Sith, $1,000-2,000. Above right: A replica clonetrooper helmet from Revenge of the Sith, $300-500
Nigo is one of Sotheby’s highly valued, new, young clients.
In October last year, the auctioneer staged “Nigo Only Lives Twice” (presumably he’s a Bond fan too) the “white glove” sale of 250 pieces of collectables, jewellery and watches, luxury goods, designer furniture and contemporary art from his private collection in Hong Kong.
Every lot sold, hence the white glove description, raising a total of $4.5m, more than double the pre-sale high estimate.
So, what should we collect? Toys produced in limited numbers before being withdrawn for whatever reason and limited edition pieces are safe bets, so long as the editions are small.
Nigo’s collection included a Luke Skywalker figurine with double telescoping lightsaber that was withdrawn from the market quickly because it was liable to snap in two. Only a handful remains in good condition, making them worth £6,000-8,000.
A set of “Revenge of the Jedi” cards was in production when director George Lucas decided that “revenge” was unsuitable for the film’s title. A true Jedi would never seek revenge, he said, and they were withdrawn shortly after going on sale, making a set now worth £1,500-2,500.
Rarer still is the set of collectible “Power of the Force” coins available from the manufacturer, Kenner, only by special request. Two sets in Nigo’s collection were to be offered together with an estimate of $25,000-35,000.
The earliest item of Star Wars merchandise that Lucas Studios ever licensed, the Early Bird Certificate Display Package, was estimated at $7,000-9,000 in the sale.
Closer to home, this week a large and impressive model of Jabba The Hut’s Palace was offered at The Canterbury Auction Galleries with an estimate of £250-350.
Made from moulded expanded foam and, painted naturalistically, the five-feet wide model was populated by a greenpainted Jabba reclining on his throne and a selection of Star Wars characters, including Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker and their various friends and enemies.
A sale at Ewbank’s in Surrey, meanwhile, featured a particularly strong entry of Star Wars movie posters, a visually exciting way to pay homage to the heroes from a galaxy far, far away, so long as you have sufficient walls large enough to display them.
A rare version of the quad (30 x 40 inches) designed by Tim and Greg Hildebrandt for the first release in the 20th Century Fox Star Wars saga in 1977 was issued when the film was first released in the UK but subsequently withdrawn.
It was decided that the depiction of the characters should more closely resemble the film’s actors, and so it was replaced by a second version with artwork by Tom Chantrell. Its guide price was £1,200-1,800.
A one-sheet (27 x 41 inches) advance teaser poster for the
Jabba the Hutt’s Palace, £250-350
A Revenge of the Jedi teaser poster from 1982, £200-400 same film on Mylar, a type of plastic sheet, with the legend: “Coming To A Galaxy Near You This Summer”, dating from1976, was expected to sell for £200-400, as was an advance teaser one-sheet for the 1982 film Star Wars Revenge of the Jedi.
A model of the iconic Imperial Stormtrooper helmet made by Andrew Ainsworth of Shepperton Design Studios who went on to make those used in the film was believed to be of one of a small number that remained unfinished.
It was purchased from Ainsworth in 1977 and at some stage painted with grey and black areas for a fancy dress party. It was estimated at £1,500-2,500, as was an exact full-scale replica of the robot droid character R2-D2.
Made from plastic, metal and wood and painted in replica colours, the model ran on wheels and was complete with interior electronics to provide lights and sound. Imagine waking up to that on Christmas morning. Not everything need cost a fortune, however. In the same sale, a collection of more than 60 Star Wars figures including all the famous characters (and some I’d never heard of ) was expected to sell for £200-400. Individually, they can be picked up at car boot sales for a few pounds apiece, but the best are those in bubble packs that have never been opened.