Star Wars toys left in dusty attic for 40 years to fetch thousands at auction

By Adam Dutton

Vintage Star Wars toys which lay in a dusty attic for 40 years are set to fetch $8,000 at auction.

The 21 mint-condition figures – including Luke Skywalker and R2-D2 – are still in their packaging with the original $2.15 price tags on them.

The “holy grail” figurine in the collection is Yak Face, from the 1983 movie Return of the Jedi.

The camel-faced creature was a member of Jabba the Hutt's entourage and is one of the famous ‘Last 17’ - the rarest figures to collect.

The toy was never officially sold in the US, making it highly sought after, and is expected to sell for at least $1,000.

The iconic toys are going under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers in Etwall, Derbys., on Thursday, July 24.

A woman discovered the collection, which had belonged to her late husband, in the loft at their home in Wellingbough, Northants.

Hansons’ toy expert, David Wilson-Turner, said: “The figures came from the vendor’s husband’s collection.

“He didn’t collect as such, just toys from his childhood that didn’t get played with much.

“She was delighted when we told her how much they were worth.”

All of the figures were made in Palitoy in Coalville, Leicestershire, and had been left untouched for 40 years.

Wilson-Turner added: “Palitoy secured the rights to produce Star Wars toys in the 1970s via its US sister company, Kenner.

“At first Palitoy was reluctant to even launch a Star Wars range because no one had heard of the film.

“But, while America went on produce the franchise’s merchandise in the millions, Palitoy’s output was more modest, making it all the more appealing to collectors both sides of the Atlantic.”

Palitoy produced variants of figures and packaging unique to the UK. These include tri-logo packaging (with English, French, and Spanish text on one card) which has become a collector’s favorite.

These were a final, and much sought-after group of figures, produced between 1984 and 1985, as interest in the original Star Wars trilogy had begun to wane.

Also in the sale is a figure of R2-D2 with pop-up lightsaber which is expected to make $300-$400, an Amanaman with an estimate of $250-$350 and Luke Skywalker who is expected to make $200-$300.