Buzz
Ahead of the release of the seventh chapter of the Star Wars saga, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, stores across the globe are brimming with new movie-inspired merchandise. But for the true die-hard fans, collecting memorabilia from the films has been a passion from the very beginning. A massive enthusiast of both the Star Wars universe and pop culture collectibles, Japanese designer and producer NIGO is continuing his legacy from last year’s event, "NIGO Only Lives Twice", with another Sotheby’s auction that is entirely devoted to Star Wars items.
"Return of the NIGO" showcases over 600 unique lots, featuring everything from rare action figures and mugs to posters, replicas, and helmets, all available for bidding on December 11. As The Force Awakens marks the seventh installment in the Star Wars franchise, here are seven standout items that will soon be up for auction.
1. STAR WARS LUKE SKYWALKER ACTION FIGURE WITH DOUBLE-TELESCOPING SABER, 1978
Sotheby’s
Estimated Value: $12,000-$18,000
With only 20 known examples of this Kenner action figure in existence, calling it 'rare' barely scratches the surface. Luke, with his distinctive blond hair, holds an exceptionally long lightsaber that, as reported by StarWars.com, was also used for the first Darth Vader and Ben Kenobi figures. Notably, Luke’s lightsaber is yellow, unlike the blue or green variants seen in the films. The toys were later redesigned with single-telescoping sabers due to the fragility of the original models, which were prone to breaking.
2. TWO STAR WARS POWER OF THE FORCE COIN SETS, 1985
Sotheby’s
The auction's star attraction is this meticulously framed collection of two complete Kenner Power of the Force (POTF) coin sets. Each set includes 63 coins, with both sides showcased in the frame. While individual coins are relatively common, these complete sets are exceptionally rare, containing prototypes that are hard to find. Rumor has it that only 10 of these framed sets were produced, with three sent to Lucasfilm and the remaining seven distributed to Kenner executives.
3. STAR WARS POWER OF THE FORCE BOBA FETT FIRST SHOT PROTOTYPE ACTION FIGURE, 1995
Sotheby’s
Estimated Value: $400-$600
While the retail version of this mid-1990s toy can still be found on various ecommerce sites for under $20, prototypes are far more elusive, rarely escaping the factories or the hands of those who design and create them. This makes it nearly impossible to determine how many of these prototypes exist, adding even more value to this C-9 condition item (graded on a scale of 10, with 10 being mint).
4. STAR WARS: A NEW HOPE ELITE HAN SOLO BLASTER, MASTER REPLICAS, 2002
Sotheby’s
Estimated Value: $800-$1200. Limited to just 1259 units, this blaster was part of a series of weapon replicas produced by Master Replicas in the early to mid-2000s. For comparison, a screen-used DL-44 Blaster recently sold for approximately $200,000, making this Lucasfilm-licensed version a perfect option for Han Solo enthusiasts on a budget who still want to shoot first.
5. STAR WARS 'WALKING WIND-UP' R2-D2 ACTION FIGURE, 1978
Sotheby’s
Estimated Value: $1250-$2500
This 1978 toy was originally sold in Japan and Canada, but the version with this specific packaging was exclusive to Canadian buyers (it is said that the toy was sold in baggies in Asia). The graphic on the packaging makes the toy appear much faster than it really is, though the winning bidder probably won't be testing its speed anytime soon.
Sotheby’s
Estimated Value: $500-$700
Created by Polish graphic artist Jakub Erol, this vintage poster for the first film in the original trilogy showcases only C-3PO. While there have been countless poster variations for the Star Wars films over the years, Erol’s choice of a minimalist design makes this one stand out. The text translates to "American science fiction film Star Wars" and includes the names of the director, lead actors, and studio, all set against a stenciled graphic of the droid with a black-and-white speckled backdrop.
7. SIGNED STAR WARS LUKE SKYWALKER LIGHTSABER, MASTER REPLICAS, 2002
Sotheby’s
Estimated Value: $1000-$2000. Last year, fan speculation ran wild after an early trailer for Star Wars: The Force Awakens seemingly showed what looked like Luke Skywalker’s lost lightsaber being passed to a new character. As one of the most iconic weapons in the Star Wars universe, any licensed replica is bound to attract significant collector interest. This replica of the original comes complete with a case and a plaque signed by Luke himself, Mark Hamill.
