Summary
A Boba Fett action figure sold for over $1.3 million, making it the most expensiveStar Warstoy, and the most expensive toy in general, ever sold. Boba Fett is one ofthe best bounty hunters inStar Wars, and he’s been an icon of the franchise ever sinceThe Empire Strikes Back. He was a sensation as soon as he appeared intheStar Warsmovies, and his popularity grew enough that he got a solo spinoff show,The Book of Boba Fett. There was even anow-canceled Boba Fett movieat one point, and one toy perfectly exemplifies how important he is as a character.
A Boba Fett action figure, specifically the 1979 Kenner Star Wars Rocket-Firing Boba Fett (Mailer) J-Slot (V2)/2 Missiles Action Figure, was recently sold byGoldinat auction for $1,342,000 including the premium fee. According to the collectibles marketplace company, that price makes it the most expensive toy ever sold.
“This is now the highest price ever paid for any toy, action figure and non-Prop Star Wars item. This speaks to the continued interest in Star Wars and the role this item plays as the single most important action figure in the hobby. "
According toPublic, the Boba Fett action figure blew the previous record for most expensive vintage toy out of the water by a million dollars. The previous record-holder was Barbie by Stefano Canturi, a doll that comes with a pink diamond necklace, which sold for $300,000 in 2010. Other toys have sold for more in the past, but those were often diamond or gemstone-encrusted decorations rather than actual toys. This Boba Fett action figure is so expensive even without the added value of precious gems, and that value comes from its unique history.
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Why Is This Boba Fett Action Figure Worth So Much?
In its description of the Boba Fett action figure, Goldin referred to it as the “Holy Grail” of the toy collecting hobby. That designation comes from the figure’s storied history.As Goldin explained, there are only three known Boba Fett Mailer J-slot V2/Missile figures in existence. That’s because they’re a prototype model of a toy made by the toy company Kenner, and only 30 of those prototypes were ever actually produced in the first place. That version of the toy never made it to shelves due to problems with the missile launching mechanism that made them a danger to children, so the J-slot V2/Missile was left in the dust.
Boba Fett
A perfect clone of bounty hunter Jango Fett, Boba Fett inherited his father’s profession and operated as a bounty hunter through the Clone Wars and the Dark Times of the Empire’s reign. Believed killed on Tatooine, he survived and sought redemption of sorts after he was helped by native Tusken Raiders. In The Mandalorian era, Boba Fett now operates as a crime lord - having taken over Jabba the Hutt’s old empire.
Only three figures of the 30 that Kenner commissioned survived the testing process without receiving extensive damage. The one recently sold by Goldin was by far the most pristine, and achieved a very high quality rating.Its quality, coupled with the scarcity of the toy and both Boba Fett andStar Wars' popularity, turned into a perfect storm that made the action figure wildly expensive. Goldin’s assessment was right, the Boba Fett action figure is a veritable “Holy Grail” of toy collecting, and it has the price tag to prove it.
While the Boba Fett action figure is both extremely rare and extremely high-quality, perhaps the most important factor in its price isStar Warsas a franchise rather than the toy itself. A big reason so many collectors wanted the Boba Fett figure in the first place is because both the legendary bounty hunter andStar Warsare so beloved. Scarcity alone does not make something valuable, it also has to be worth spending money on. The fact that the most expensive toy in the world is aStar Warsaction figure proves that the franchise is worth millions, both in dollars and in sentimental value.
Sources:Goldin,Public
Star Wars
Star Wars is a multimedia franchise that started in 1977 by creator George Lucas. After the release of Star Wars: Episode IV- A New Hope (originally just titled Star Wars), the franchise quickly exploded, spawning multiple sequels, prequels, TV shows, video games, comics, and much more. After Disney acquired the rights to the franchise, they quickly expanded the universe on Disney+, starting with The Mandalorian.
