One of the world’s rarest Star Wars figures found hidden in a loft is set to sell for up to £15,000 ($19,353).
The Jawa figure dates back to the 1970s, with an estimated 10-12 of them scattered across the globe.
The price tag, described as “conservative” is 10,000 times the £1.50 ($1.94) that the figure was originally on sale for.
This isn’t the first of its kind to be sold, with one from the US selling for £27,500 ($35,481) last October and a UK one selling for £22,000 ($28,385) three years ago.
The auctioneers have taken into consideration the financial crisis that has hit the UK, leading them to estimate a lower price than others but will not be surprised if it does exceed expectation.
The seller received theirs as a gift from the British toy company PALITOY during the promotion of the Star Wars line in Marvel’s comics.
The current owner served as the art director for Marvel UK between 1974 and 1979 and didn’t realize its value until he brought it in to the auctioneers on a whim.
Jonathan Torode, an auctioneer at Excalibur Auctions, said: “He was coming in to sell some comics and artwork and talk to our comic specialist.
“He just turned up with them and our jaws dropped.
However, with the “cheap” figures already on their way to the UK, a few made it across the pond and were set to be sold for around £1.50 a piece.
Torode added: “The UK figures are even rarer because by the time these figures got to the UK they had already withdrawn them and started producing cloth versions.
The highly coveted figure comes with its rare vinyl cape on its original 12-back card.
The 12-back card remains almost flat, with slight creasing in the corners due to careful storage, and retains the original punch tab in situ.
The card’s colors are immaculate, and the bubble has not suffered any yellowing, as the figure has never been displayed.
The figure also carries an E grade on a VG/E card, representing its exceptional condition.
Jawas appear throughout the Star Wars franchise as meter-tall robed scavengers who comb the deserts of lawless Tatooine for scrap metal.
Produced in association with SWNS Talker
