Star Wars fans have been obsessing over collectibles since A New Hope was first released in theaters back in 1977. From movie props to action figures made by Kenner and LEGO, there is no shortage of collectible items for all walks of life. Some of these items are worth more than an average house and others are almost too embarrassing to even talk about.
Collectors of Star Wars merchandise range from individuals attending private auctions to an average couple who has their basement packed with Star Wars labeled food products, toys, and models. According to CNBC, a 2015 auction at Sotheby’s auction house featured “more than 600 original action figures, coins, collectibles, and toys.” Once everything was sold off, the grand total of the auction came to over $500,000.
Many of the items from the late 70s and early 80s tend to be the most sought after and have the heaviest price tags. Much of this is because of lower production numbers from 1986 to 1995, due to there being no movies to push the merchandise. A revival was spawned during the prequel trilogies and as Star Wars continues to grow under Disney, so does the number of collectibles available to fans. It shouldn’t come as a surprise when some 40 years from now there is a huge number of Star Wars collectibles being sold in the secondary market for absurd prices.
Because of this foregone conclusion, now is the time to dig through those boxes tucked away in basements, garages, storage, and attics. Who knows, you might be sitting on the next big Star Wars collectible to be sold at auction. Or, you might find toys and items too embarrassing to even mention.
30 Embarrassing: Han Solo Smuggler Flight Pack
After the rise in popularity of Boba Fett, Hasbro went anime deep and decided to give Han a “flight pack” which resembled a poorly made mech suit. Featuring guns bigger than the ones found on an X-Wing and giant fuselage tanks asking to be shot with a blaster, this toy collectible set is a complete disaster.
How Han is depicted is even more embarrassing. He looks like he’s been juicing just to get the flight pack on. And what’s up with the eyebrows there Hasbro? Apparently Han Solo needs a better barber.
29 Fortune: 10179 Ultimate Collector’s Millennium Falcon
Known as the third largest LEGO set to date, the 10179 Ultimate Collector’s Millennium Falcon was released in 2007 and discontinued in 2009.
First copies of the 10179 came with special first edition certificate of authenticity if ordered through the LEGO website. The Millennium Falcon set measures in at 33 inches long by 22 inches wide and 8.3 inches tall. It was scaled to fit mini-figures and comes with 5,000 pieces. Its predecessor, the 75192 Millennium Falcon (released in 2017) stepped it up a notch with 7,541 pieces.
28 Embarrassing: Polis Massan Medics
Droid medics are standard in the Star Wars franchise, but do we really need an action figure of the Polis Massan? Tucked away in the deepest of cuts from Star Wars: Revenge of the Sith is a “midwife” droid known as Polis Massan. During the birthing scene, Massan can be seen in the background doing — absolutely nothing.
Staring at Padme as she struggles with the birth of Luke and Leia, Massan looks on while other medic droids attempt to assist in the pregnancy. How this droid isn’t on the .99 cent rack or why its very existence as a toy isn’t questioned is beyond comprehension.
27 Fortune: Luke’s X-Wing Fighter Model
Lorne Peterson and Charlie Bailey are two iconic names associated with Star Wars and years of experience working for ILM. The models used changed the cinematic game back in the late 70s, including the use of (shocking as it may be) superglue.
This X-Wing model, flown by Luke Skywalker in Empire Strikes Back came out of hiding in 2012. Full of blast marks, and used for most of the movie, the X-Wing model sold for $221,400 at a Profiles in History auction.
26 Embarrassing: Monster Mash Bobble Heads
Funko may have gone a bit far on this one, mashing good old Halloween monsters and creatures with the world of Star Wars. Or to be more precise, with stormtroopers. In what was clearly a cash-grab idea, the monster mash skeleton stormtroopers failed to break any sales records.
Their availability, however, is hard to come by. Only Funko could turn a sales flop into a hard to find Star Wars collectible. The same line also included a mashup between Frankenstein and Darth Vader, along with Chewbacca and a werewolf.
25 Fortune: Jawa Vinyl Cape Action Figure
There is only one known graded example of the Star Wars Palitoy vinyl-cape Jawa toy in existence. Created in 1978. While some might wonder why this action figure is so sought after, the reason would be in the (you guessed it) cape.
The vinyl cape was featured with the toy for several months but was later changed to cloth.
Plenty of fakes exist on the inter-web, however, this one which was sold on eBay for $52,780 is the real deal.
24 Embarrassing: Darth Vader 1977 Rain Poncho
Most clothing and accessories made during the late 70s and early 80s is embarrassing, as can be seen by my childhood photos and this 1977 Darth Vader rain poncho. This collectible item was designed for kids, with little effort applied towards an actual depiction of the character.
Pointed hoods were a thing back then on rain ponchos, but thankfully the design flaw still isn’t in effect today. The mask itself looks more like Zorro than Vader, however, at least the Sith Lord is properly represented with the front image.
23 Fortune: Gold LEGO C-3PO
LEGO has always been at the forefront of toymaking and in 2007 they took their marketing to a whole new level by offering 10,000 randomly placed gold C-3PO’s. The LEGO pieces weren’t made of real gold, but there was an opportunity for 5 grand prize winners to take home a 14k gold C-3PO mini figure.
The gold-plated mini figures have only surfaced a couple times since 2007, fetching a price tag of $10,000.
The contest was held in commemoration of Star Wars 30th birthday, honoring A New Hope and the iconic characters featured in the film.
22 Embarrassing: R2-D2 Fish Tank
If you’re a diehard R2-D2 collector and a fan of goldfish from the local fair, this Star Wars aquarium might be just the thing you’ve been looking for. Housing a 1 3/4-gallon tank (mainly for freshwater fish), the unit also comes with a rotating head and bleeps per voice commands.
Contained within his eye is a periscope to see into the water and there are multi-colored LED lights housed in the base to provide the right kind of atmosphere for your fish.
21 Fortune: Vader Down #1 Variant Cover Featuring Jaxxon
Darth Vader is by far the most beloved villain of all time in Star Wars history. Lucasfilm and artist Chip Zdarsky decided to make history by featuring Jaxxon on a variant cover for Vader Down issue #1.
Copies of this variant cover which are in mint condition have sold on eBay for up to $4,000.
Jaxxon is the 1978 version of Jar-Jar Binks, having first appeared in Star Wars #8. He is a smuggler-pilot who also happens to be a walking and talking rabbit. Jaxxon also believed he was a better pilot than Han Solo.
20 Embarrassing: Large Bib Fortuna Mug
Bib Fortuna was a male Twi’lek version of C-3PO featured in Return of the Jedi. Instead of assisting Princess Leia with daily operations, he served the evil and slimy crime lord Jabba the Hutt.
Bib wasn’t the best looking Twi’lek and the coffee mug somehow manages to make his face even less appealing. Having to stare down Fortuna’s lopsided mug every morning while drinking coffee could have adverse effects. For those into bulbous foreheads and quad-fangs, the Bib Fortuna mug could be the collectible of choice.
19 Fortune: Holographic Darth Maul Funko Pop
It’s no secret, Funko Pop collectors mean serious business when it comes to characters they love. In 2012, San Diego Comic-Con featured a Holographic Darth Maul Funko Pop. The item has become quite hot on the secondary market, selling for an all-time high of $1,850 on eBay.
The Funko Pop of Darth Maul is made out of vinyl material and glows in the dark. It is estimated that only 491 of this much sought-after Star Wars collectible currently exist.
18 Embarrassing: Plush Sarlacc Eating Boba Fett
Featured as an exclusive piece of merchandise sold only during Star Wars Celebration in 2017, this plush Sarlacc Pit item is more than a little embarrassing. Not only does it look unappealing, it also appears as if there wasn’t much of a budget for this so-called exclusive item.
The only redeeming quality to the plush Sacracc Pit is the Boba Fett, even if it looks like he’s about to be swallowed by a giant flower or plant.
17 Fortune: Double Telescoping Vader And Obi-Wan
Double Telescoping is a mold for the plastic lightsabers used for Kenner’s action figures of Luke, Obi-Wan Kenobi, and Darth Vader. Finding the action figures with this type of mold is rare, even more so for Vader and Obi-Wan.
Luke was part of the early release line out of Kenner before the series was recalled and replaced with a single lightsaber mold. Less Obi-Wan and Darth Vader’s made it to the market before the recall, making them a collectible most Star Wars fans would like to get their hands on. A DT Kenner Obi-Wan or Vader can sell for up to $7,000.
16 Embarrassing: Star Wars Christmas In The Stars Album
Not counting “Da” Bears Superbowl Shuffle record, lots of embarrassing albums were released in the 80s. The Star Wars Christmas record is sung and narrated by Anthony Daniels (yep, C-3PO himself).
Sadly, the song “What Can You Get a Wookiee For Christmas,” didn’t make it to the top of Billboard hits.
There is, however, an unlikely cameo by an all-star musician who wasn’t famous yet. Jon Bon Jovi (credited as John Bongiovi) sang lead vocals on “R2-D2 We Wish You a Merry Christmas.” Much like the Star Wars Christmas Special, this Star Wars Christmas in the Stars album is for a very niche audience.
15 Fortune: Revenge Of The Jedi Poster
George Lucas had originally named his third movie in the Star Wars saga, Return of the Jedi. After hearing out his friend and producer, Gary Kurtz, Lucas changed the title of the movie to Revenge of the Jedi.
As the release date approached and marketing began, George Lucas changed the name of the film back to the title he originally had for it. A few marketing materials were released, leading to the valued Revenge of the Jedi poster collectibles. The posters have sold from $1,000 up to almost $6,000.
14 Embarrassing: Star Wars Rubber Duckies
There’s nothing wrong with rubber duckies. I had them in my early childhood years, as did many of my friends. But turning Star Wars characters into ducks might be crossing the line.
These bath time rubber duckies transformed Luke Skywalker into Luke Pondwater, Princess Leia into Princess Layer, and a stormtrooper into Pondtroopers. The stormtrooper one is actually kind of cute, but the rest is too much. The rubber duckies also come with LED lights, so the kids can bathe with bathroom lights off.
13 Fortune: Star Wars SDCC 1976 Convention Poster
Originally called Star Wars Corporation Poster #1, this SDCC grab was sold for exactly $1 in 1976 at the convention. Since that time, Star Wars has obviously become a phenomenon nobody expected, making this unique SDCC poster worth up to $2,000.
The 1976 San Diego Comic-Con poster was created by Howard Chaykin, a comic book writer, and artist. Chaykin has worked with Marvel, DC, and many independent comic book companies over the years. In 1976, Chaykin was put in charge of drawing the Marvel Comics adaptation of A New Hope, written by Roy Thomas.
12 Embarrassing: Star Wars Blaster Carrying Case
Times were different in 1984. Kenner created a carrying case for fans to put their action figures in, which just happened to look like a giant blaster rifle. Known as the Star Wars Laser Rifle Carry Case, this collectible might not be safe to take to school with you.
Not that it stopped us kids in the 80s. Attach a strap and sling it over your back, and this collectible was super cool back in the day. Not so much, anymore. The carry case could fit up to 19 action figures and also had space for accessories and “secret messages.”
11 Fortune: Blue Snaggletooth Kenner Action Figure
Designers over a Kenner were originally given a black and white of Snaggletooth’s head in 1978. Rather than inquiring more about the character, an action figure was created with a human size body and a blue jumpsuit.
Needless to say, Kenner messed up as Snaggletooth is half the size of an average human and his costume was red. Most importantly, his real name isn’t Snaggletooth but Zutton. This hard to find Star Wars collectible can be seen selling for up to $800.
