Rare ‘Star Wars’ toys expected to fetch over $14,000 at auction

By Ashley Pemberton via SWNS

A staggering collection of rare Star Wars toys - many still in their original unopened boxes - is expected to fetch up to £12,000 ($14,130) at auction this weekend.

The collection of hundreds of items, which includes rare collectables from the Sci-Fi franchise, filled 88 cardboard boxes and was amassed by a couple over 44 years.

It includes a rare 1978 radio-controlled Jawa Sandcrawler, in its original box, which could fetch £1,500 ($1,766).

The collection has been divided into separate lots, each containing dozens of mint condition boxed figures that have never been opened.

Auctioneer Stephen Drake said he'd never seen a haul like the collection in his career after he needed a van to transport the toys to the auction house.

"There's 88 lots, ranging from mixed lots of figures, single figures and quite rare figures. There are some rare boxed sets, dating back from 1978," he said.

"I've never had a collection like this - I've never even seen a collection like this before."

It is being sold off by Star Wars fans who need the space in their garage for their car.

"The seller is a couple that collected these over the years. They've been fans of Star Wars all their lives and have been collecting throughout adulthood," Drake said.

"They've decided to sell to clear up space in their garage because they need to put their car in it.

"There was over 80 boxes, it filled a van. I offered to go round in my car and pick them up, but they said you'd never get it in a car."

Many of the individual lots are estimated to fetch up to £300 ($353) at a time - with the entire collection expected to fetch more than £10,000 ($11,775).

The collection ranges from figurines of the popular characters such as Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader and Princess Leia, to more obscure fighters and droids.

A staggering collection of rare Star Wars toys - many still in their original unopened boxes - is expected to fetch over $14k at auction. (Willingham Auctions via SWNS)

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It also includes as weapons, fan club magazines, posters and even jigsaws.

"Lot 677 is very rare, it's a radio controlled Sandcrawler from 1978 in a box. They've been known to make up to £1,500," Drake said.

"The entire lot could possibly sell for between £6,000 to £12,000."

The collection will go under the hammer at Willingham, near Cambridge, on Saturday in an online auction.

Visit here to bid.