Welcome to Rec.arts.sf.starwars.collecting.vintage
Ed Lee
updated frequently with input and suggestions from the RASSCV members. This
FAQ will be posted every Sunday evening.
Welcome to the rec.arts.sf.starwars.collecting.vintage (rasscv) newsgroup!
This document is intended only as an introduction to the group and contains
some of the more frequently asked questions. For more information, see the
many websites devoted to SW collecting or read the Star Wars Collecting FAQ
that can be found at the following URL:
http://pages.map.com/starwars/faq.html
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Questions appearing in this document:
1. What kinds of posts belong on rasscv?
2. Are there websites devoted to vintage Star Wars collectibles?
3. What do the commonly used abbreviations mean?
4. How much are my old Star Wars items worth?
5. Did anyone ever receive a rocket-firing Boba Fett in the mail?
6. How do I know if my Luke Skywalker has a telescoping saber?
7. How green is the Early Bird Chewbacca's gun supposed to be?
8. Were can I find an original Bib Fortuna with a red cape?
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
1. What kinds of posts belong on rasscv?
This group is open to discussion of all issues and topics pertaining to Star
Wars collectibles such as toys, posters, comics, cards, etc. manufactured
prior to 1990. Collectibles manufactured after 1990 have their own group,
rec.arts.sf.starwars.collecting.misc. As a courtesy, large binary files such
as images and sounds should be posted to alt.binaries.starwars.
2. Are there websites devoted to vintage Star Wars collectibles?
There are *many* websites on the web today that contain information about
vintage merchandise. The following are just a sampling of the pages out
there:
The Star Wars Collectors Archive:
http://www.toysrgus.com/
12back.com
http://www.12back.com
The Star Wars Action Figure Web:
http://5ss.simplenet.com/swafw
Star Wars Toy Resource Page:
http://pages.map.com/starwars/
The Exhaustive Guide to Star Wars Comics
http://www.asb.com/usr/cardsafe/intro.htm
Star Wars Posters
http://www.inficad.com/~derek/starwars/
The Star Wars Collector Online
http://www.teleport.com/~dpip/swc/swchome.html
3. What do the commonly used abbreviations mean?
(For more information regarding these terms, visit the rassc FAQ.)
CNP Complete No Package.
ESB The Empire Strikes Back.
FS For Sale.
M, Mint The item is in brand new condition.
MIB Mint in Box.
MIMB Mint in Mint Box.
MISB Mint in Sealed Box.
MOC Mint On Card.
MOMC Mint On Mint Card.
MTFBWY May the Force be with you.
NM Near Mint.
NRFB Never removed from box.
POF, POTF Power of the Force
POP Proof of Purchase.
ROJ, ROTJ Return of the Jedi
SW Star Wars
TRU Toys "R" Us.
UP Unpunched.
WTB Want to buy.
WTT Want to trade.
4. How much are my old Star Wars items worth?
The best way to determine value is to find a priceguide. The only guide
that currently offers ballpark figures for SW toys is Action Figure News and
Toy Review. But, the prices listed in this guide are generally the high
end of what dealers ask for complete *mint* items. Value drops considerably
for those items that are incomplete or in less than mint condition. A word
of warning: DO NOT HOLD PRICEGUIDE PRICES AS GOSPEL! A better way to
determine asking prices would be to look through a couple of issues of Toy
Shop magazine, visit a toy show or check the eBay completed items
frequently.
5. Did anyone ever receive a rocket-firing Boba Fett in the mail?
Kenner sources have verified that *no* RocketFetts were sent out as part of
the infamous 1979 mailaway premium. There are several dozen known
prototypes in collectors' hands and a far greater number of fakes that have
appeared on the secondary market.
6. How do I know if my Luke Skywalker has a telescoping saber?
Early Lukes (and a very limited number of Bens and Vaders) came with a
two-piece telescoping lightsaber. The outer piece is extended in the same
way as a standard lightsaber by the little tab that extends through the
figure's arm. On the telescoping version, a second inner part can then be
pulled out. If a saber is one piece, it is *not* the telescoping version.
Also note, there are some high-quality replica Vader and Ben telescoping
sabers on the market today.
7. How green is the Early Bird Chewbacca's gun supposed to be?
These guns are a very dark green which should be visible under standard room
lighting. Note: not all Early Bird Chewies came with a green gun and the
figure was packaged on the card with this version of the accessory.
9. Were can I find an original Bib Fortuna with a red cape?
Some Kenner promotional paperwork shows a prototype Bib figure wearing a red
cape. The production figure was not released with this cape but there are
a number of individuals making fakes and selling them as real. When
considering a purchase, unless the figure can be traced back to a Kenner
employee, assume it is a fake.
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
Please direct any questions comments or suggestions to Edward P.
Lee(enc...@verizon.net). Please remember that this document is only
intended as an introduction to the group! Lengthy questions and answers can
be found in the rassc FAQ.
Ed Lee
Ed Lee
This document is intended only as an introduction to the group and contains
some of the more frequently asked questions. For more information, see the
many websites devoted to SW collecting or read the Star Wars Collecting FAQ
that can be found at the following URL:
http://pages.map.com/starwars/faq.html
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
I. General Information
1. What kinds of posts belong on RASSCV?
2. What do the abbreviations commonly used in Star Wars collecting mean?
3. What does "mint" mean?
4. What is the difference between MOC and MOMC?
5. What is the difference between MIB, MIMB, and MISB?
6. What does the C-1 to C-10 scale mean?
7. What is the difference between POTF and POF2?
II. Collecting Resources on the Internet
1. Are there any good sources for SW collectibles files/photos on the
net?
2. Is Kenner (or other merchandising outfits) online? What is their
address?
3. What are the topics covered in the rec.arts.sf.* Usenet newsgroups?
4. Is there a way to "check out" a person before purchasing items
advertised through a newsgroup?
5. Who is "Renhoeck" and why is the name so famous?
6. Where can I find out about the new movies?
III. Kenner Packaging
1. What does 12, 20... 92-back mean?
2. What does it mean when a card is punched?
3. Why are some of my figures blacked out on the back of my ROTJ card?
4. Is there a checklist for the Star Wars cards? Figures? Playsets?
Books? Comics? Etc...?
5. Why do a lot of POTF figures have "yellow" bubbles?
6. Is Yak Face pictured on the back of a POTF Yak Face card?
7. Did Yak Face come with a weapon?
8. What is the best way to store carded figures?
IV. Loose Figures (Vintage)
1. How many figures were made?
2. Did anyone actually get one of those neat Rocket Firing Boba Fett's?
3. What are some rarer figure variations and how can one tell
4. the difference?
5. What is the mix-up between 4-LOM and Zuckuss?
V. Buying, Selling, and Pricing
1. Are my old toys worth anything?
2. What's a good price guide/publication for SW collectibles?
3. Why is there such a large range in values for POTF figures?
4. Do fan made figures go up in value over time?
5. Where are good places to buy/sell/trade, physical and virtual?
VI. Non-Kenner Merchandise
1. Is it true that there is a Topps C-3PO penis card? How much is it
worth?
2. What about foreign Star Wars figures?
VII. Credits
***** ***** ***** ***** ***** ***** *****
I. General Information
1. What kind of posts belong on RASSCV?
This group is open to discussion of all issues and topics pertaining to Star
Wars collectibles such as toys, posters, comics, cards, etc. manufactured
prior to 1990. Collectibles manufactured after 1990 have their own group,
rec.arts.sf.starwars.collecting.misc. As a courtesy, large binary files such
as images and sounds should be posted to alt.binaries.starwars.
2. What do the abbreviations commonly used in Star Wars collecting mean?
AFA - Action Figure Authority
CNP - Complete No Package
ESB - The Empire Strikes Back
FS - For Sale
M, Mint - The item is in brand new condition
MIB - Mint in Box
MIMB - Mint in Mint Box
MISB - Mint in Sealed Box
MOC - Mint on Card
MOMC - Mint on Mint Card
MTFBWY - May the Force be with you
NM - Near Mint
NRFB - Never removed from box
POF, POTF - Power of the Force
POP - Proof of Purchase
ROJ, ROTJ - Return of the Jedi
SW - Star Wars
TRU - Toys "R" Us
UP - Unpunched
WTB - Want to buy
WTT - Want to trade
3. What does Mint mean?
Mint means new, unused, as if you bought it fresh from the store in an
undamaged state.
4. What is the difference between MOC and MOMC?
MOC (Mint on Card) means a figure is in original unopened package. If there
is any way the figure could be removed or has been removed, then it's not
MOC. MOC says nothing about the condition of the card, which is the most
important factor in determining the value of carded figures. A figure that
is MOMC (Mint on Mint Card) is an MOC figure on a card that is completely
free of defects.
5. What is the difference between MIB, MIMB, and MISB?
MIB - Mint in Box. A toy is MIB if the toy inside is mint. MIB says that
the box is, well, a box. MIB says nothing about box condition, an important
aspect of value. Assume nothing about the condition of the box if an item is
advertised as MIB.
MIMB - Mint in Mint Box. The box is in "factory fresh" condition, with no
creasing, crushed corners, etc. This would be absolutely free of defects.
MISB - Mint in Sealed Box. The box is factory sealed and the toy inside is
therefore mint. Like MIB, nothing at all is implied about the condition of
the box.
6. What does the C-1 to C-10 scale mean?
This scale is commonly used to grade boxed and loose toys. It was designed
to be more specific and quantitative than a scale based on individual terms.
C-10 is absolutely mint, perfect, and free of defects. C- 1 is totally beat
up. What falls in between is highly subjective. No matter what anyone tells
you, there is no absolute meaning to this scale, and each collector uses
their own relative grading. It is best to continue to buy from dealers you
trust after you get a feel for their grading scale based on past samples.
When buying carded or packaged items, always ask for a description of all
defects in addition to the C-scale grading. Some typical defects found in
carded figures and boxed toys include (but are not limited to): yellowed
bubble, edge wear, creasing, bends, card is not flat, bubble is crushed,
bubble has ding ,bubble has dent (bigger than a ding), bubble has been
reattached, tears on card bubble separated from card over a small section,
card colors are faded, cellophane ripped, price tag still in place, sticker
tear (from removing price tag), card is punched, and proof of purchase seal
removed from back of card.
Carded figures sometimes sell for several times the price of the same
figures as a loose, mint, complete specimen. It is not uncommon to see a
figure that sell s for $10 loose to go for $50 carded. The reason for this
is that CONDITION IS EVERYTHING when it comes to the value of carded figures
and completeness is the key factor in determining the value of loose
figures.
The prices listed in price guides for carded figures are for C-10 samples.
The price drops dramatically (sometimes to about the same price as a loose
mint figure) if there are significant defects.
It should be noted that some figures have never been seen on cards, such as
the Sears Blue Snaggletooth. Some overseas packaging hints that this figure
may be available carded in Europe or Asia, but no samples have surfaced to
verify this.
7. What is the difference between POTF and POF2?
POTF - Power of the Force. This series of toys was issued by Kenner in 1985,
two years after the release of ROTJ. At that time the market for Star Wars
merchandise was dying, so sales of POTF packaged items were low. Today, POTF
packaged toys are among the most highly collectible of the Kenner releases.
POF2 - Power of the Force, 2nd generation. This term refers to the packaging
that Kenner has chosen for its new line of Star Wars merchandise that
debuted in 1995. More information on the POF2 line of toys can be found at
rec.arts.sf.starwars.collecting.misc.
II. Collecting Resources on the Internet
1. Are there any good sources for SW collectibles files/photos on the
net?
There are hundreds of Star Wars sites on the 'Net, many of them devoted to
collectibles. The following are only some of the sites that contain this
information:
The Star Wars Collectors Archive: http://www.toysrgus.com/
12back.com: http://www.12back.com
Star Wars Toy Resource Page: http://pages.map.com/starwars/
The Ohio Star Wars Collectors Club: http://www.oswcc.com
2. Is Kenner (or other merchandising outfits) online? What is their
address?
The Hasbro Star Wars page is located at: http://starwars.hasbro.com/
3. What are the topics covered in the rec.arts.sf.* Usenet newsgroups?
rec.arts.sf.starwars.collecting.vintage
Collecting of items manufactured prior to 1990.
rec.arts.sf.starwars.collecting.misc
Collecting of items manufactured after 1990.
rec.arts.sf.starwars.games
Games: RPG, computer, card, etc.
General Star Wars information. (Moderated)
rec.arts.sf.starwars.misc
Miscellaneous Star Wars topics.
For more information about the collecting newsgroups, refer to the following
documents:
Welcome to rassc.vintage!
http://pages.map.com/starwars/rasscv.html
Welcome to rassc.misc!
http://pages.map.com/starwars/rasscm.txt
4. Is there a way to "check out" a person before purchasing items
advertised through a newsgroup?
Google (http://www.google.com) is a powerful tool for looking into past
newsgroup posts. The Google archive allows users to view posts from as far
back as March, 1995. (It is amazing what can be learned about a person by
looking at their past posts.)
There are also other resources on line to check out a dealer/individual.
Both Rebelscum (http://www.rebelscum.com) and GalacticHunter
(http://www.galactichunter.com) have feedback areas in their forums where
you can look up individuals' past experience with the person in question.
Listings of US phone directories can be found at several locations on the
web including:
This database allows for searches based on a variety of input criteria.
Unlisted numbers are not accessible, however.
If unsure about an individual, a post to the appropriate newsgroup asking
about that person in a nice way will usually draw response from past buyers.
Make sure that the inquiry is not an accusation!
5. Who is "Renhoeck" and why is the name so famous?
Renh...@aol.com was the screen name under which one Brian Kettler conducted
a rather devious scam. Kettler posted a list of items for sale all loose,
C-10, and complete. He had some rare items such as a Tatooine Skiff and
A-Wing both advertised for $150 along with many other items at seemingly
bargain prices. Quite a few people responded to the advertisement to find
that the items in question were not yet sold. Kettler actually promised out
some 8 A-Wings, 8 Skiffs, and a fleet of other ships before his scam
unfolded! He explained this rather unprecedented stockpile by saying that
he has been acquiring them for years in anticipation of the release of the
Star Wars Special Edition.
The newsgroup quickly polarized into those for and against Renhoeck and
tempers flared. Some people had either already sent their money or trusted
Ren's words enough to commit to buying from him. (He was a smooth talker
too.)
When the packages finally arrived 5 weeks later, the ships that Ren had
advertised ended up fitting into standard VHS tape cases. Instead of the
Kenner toys he had intentionally led people to believe they were buying, he
sent Galoob MicroMachines.
Several victims have filed mail fraud charges but Brian Kettler has not yet
faced legal action.
For more information, see the SW Collecting Information section of the Star
Wars Toy Resource Page.
6. Where can I find out about the new movies?
This information can be found in the rec.arts.sf.starwars.misc FAQ.
III. Kenner Packaging
1. What does 12, 20... 92-back mean?
This refers to the release of figures as determined by the back of the card
that the figure came on. The first release of figures had only 12 figures on
the back (of US cards). After that, there was a release that had 20 figures
on the back and so on. The final card back showed 92 different figures, with
Yak Face missing.
2. What does it mean when a card is punched?
It means the piece of cardboard for the peg hole is missing from the card.
3. Why are some of my figures blacked out on the back of my ROTJ card?
It is believed that this was done by Lucasfilm to keep the Ewoks a surprise
from people who hadn't seen ROTJ yet in late Spring of 1983. This occurs on
the first version of 65-backs on US cards. The second and later versions of
the 65 backs show the Ewoks.
On some European cards, Lumat and Paploo and blacked out, since these
figures were never released in most parts of continental Europe.
4. Is there a checklist for the Star Wars cards? Figures? Playsets?
Books? Comics? Etc...?
Checklists can be found at Rebelscum: http://www.rebelscum.com
5. Why do a lot of POTF figures have "yellow" bubbles?
Cheaper plastics were used for bubbles on POTF, Droids, Ewoks, and some ESB
and ROTJ carded figures. The exact reason for the yellowing is still
unproved but it's believed it is due to heat, humidity, exposure to light,
or some combination of these.
6. Is Yak Face pictured on the back of a POTF Yak Face card?
No. Yak Face was not shown on the standard (92-back) POTF card but did
appear on the prototype "93 Back" POTF card. This card showcased the latest
mail-in offer, the 63rd Collector's Coin. A photo of this card can be seen
in the SW Collectors Archive.
Yak Face was shown, however, in the 1985 Kenner Toy Fair catalog and on the
"Planetary Maps" included with most POTF and Droids vehicles.
7. Did Yak Face come with a weapon?
On POTF cards, he came with the same staff as Barada and Nikto. There are
reliable reports that he also came with a Luke Jedi gun. Most Yak Faces came
with no weapon since the bulk of them were originally on Tri-Logo cards.
However, some Tri-Logo carded Yak Faces did come with a weapon; however, it
was rather varied. One of the weapons included was the Luke Jedi gun.
8. What is the best way to store carded figures?
The best bet to avoid yellowing and other damage is to store carded figures
in comic bags with a comic backing board. When buying boards and bags from
a comic shop, ask for "Silver Age" bags and "Current" boards. This allows
the bag to be slightly larger than the board so that the average SW carded
figure can fit inside. Some larger SW figures (e.g. Amanaman) require a
"Golden Age" size bag. Place the board behind the card inside the bag and
then seal the bag with tape along the bag (taping the bag to itself). Comic
boxes make convenient storage units for carded SW figures stored in these
comic bags. Sealing carded figures in comic bags reduces damage due to
light, temperature, and humidity.
There are soft shell cases made for blister carded figures, with the two
more popular cases being Star Cases and Protecto-Paks
(http://www.adkinscollectibles.com). Also, many companies and individuals
are making hard acrylic cases for carded figures. A search through the
newsgroups and other forums will help in finding these manufacturers.
IV. Loose Vintage Figures
1. How many figures were made?
It all depends how you count. There were 93 regular action figures, but the
total number of different figures released by Kenner was 100. The number
goes up from there when variations counted, like the vinyl caped Jawa,
telescoping Luke/Ben/Darth, blue saber Luke Jedi, etc. Chris Nichols has a
list of 120 different loose figures including those found in playsets. An
extensive list of action figure variations is available in the SW Collectors
Archive.
2. Did anyone actually get one of those neat Rocket Firing Boba Fett's?
It has been confirmed by Kenner that no one received a rocket firing Boba
Fett from Kenner via the mail-in offer. The figure only exists in prototype
form and never made it past Kenner's legal department, and hence never went
into production. A detailed story about the rocket firing Boba Fett can be
found in Tomart's Action Figure Digest #20.
There are only about four or five dozen authentic prototypes of this figure
known to exist.
Several people have gone into the business of making replicas of the rocket
firing Boba Fett.
It is quite common to find people who swear they received a rocket firing
Boba Fett from Kenner via mail-in. One net user has offered a free Yak Face
to each person making such a claim if they can just prove they received said
figure from Kenner. This Yak Face has continued to acquire dust ever since
the offer was first mentioned!
3. What are some rarer figure variations and how can one tell the
difference?
Blue Snaggletooth - This figure was released in the Sears exclusive Cantina
Adventure Set and is much rarer than its red counterpart. The difference is
simple to tell, one is much taller and blue while the other is small and
red.
Vinyl Caped Jawa - The first Jawas released on 12-Back cards had plastic or
vinyl capes instead of cloth ones. The cape is not the same color as a Ben
Kenobi (much to some people's dismay) and also has a very faint texture on
one side whereas Ben's cape has none. It is unknown how many were actually
made. Since these figures are worth a bit of money it is common to find
fakes (in fact more common than finding originals). A way to examine for
fraud is to inspect the armholes of the Jawa to see if it looks to be the
right size. The cape should not reach the Jawa's feet, but rather end a few
mm above. Several sources of die-cut vinyl capes have surfaced recent years.
Always examine vinyl cape Jawas with skepticism.
Telescoping lightsabered figures - Some Luke (original), Ben, and Vader
figures had lightsabers made out of two pieces of plastic instead of one. In
this telescoping version, the thinner part of the saber is actually a second
piece of plastic that slides in and out of the thicker lightsaber piece.
Luke is the most common (still quite rare) to find with the telescoping
saber, followed by Ben and Vader. The sabers were most likely changed
because the telescoping ones were expensive and offered little to the
figure. It is common for people to believe they own a telescoping saber
figure without a complete understanding of the terminology. When buying a
telescoping figure, always ask if the saber has two separate parts.
Rocket Firing Boba Fett- See Question #23.
Han Solo with small head or large head- The first issue figure had a head
that was believed to be out of proportion to the body so a larger one was
sculpted and sold throughout the line's run, from Star Wars to Return of the
Jedi. It is interesting to note while replaced toward the 12-back SW run,
the small head Han Solo has shown up on ESB and ROJ Cards after the
"corrected" version had been released.
Luke Jedi Knight with blue lightsaber - A smaller number were released with
a blue lightsaber which was made from the same mold as the green one.
Bib Fortuna with red cloak- This figure was used for a Kenner catalog shoot,
and originals are quite tough to come by. Fakes of these are considerably
more common than the real ones, and great caution should be exercised if one
intends on purchasing a real one.
4. What is the mix-up between 4-LOM and Zuckuss?
When Kenner marketed these two figures, they accidentally switched names.
The tan figure with robe and insect-like face was sold as 4- LOM and the
gray droid with silver midsection sold as Zuckuss. According to Lucasfilm,
these two bounty hunters were named incorrectly. Most new literature
identifies the two characters according to Lucasfilm convention but to avoid
confusion in collecting, the action figures should be referred to by their
Kenner- given names. (The names have been corrected on the POF2 versions of
the figures.)
V. Buying, Selling, Pricing
1. Are my old toys worth anything?
Old Star Wars toys are usually worth something but often they are worth less
than most people think. There are price guides available to give you an idea
of market value. The value of a collectible is what someone is willing to
pay for it. If you have a collectible and the price guide says it's worth
$100 for a mint one (which you happen to have) then you might be able to
sell it for $100 to the right buyer. There is never a guarantee you'll get
that much. If you try to sell your collection as one lot, expect to get much
less than list price for everything. It could take you months to sell your
whole collection at list price. It's always easier to sell SW toys, but such
things as paper items and household goods are almost impossible to sell.
Also, many price guides are notoriously overpriced or underpriced. The best
way to assess value is to have a good idea of the going market rate for the
item(s) in question.
When most people ask this question, they are usually asking it with regard
to the action figures they had as kids. Loose Star Wars action figures
average around $5-8 if they are mint and complete with all accessories. No
matter how many flea market bozos you see with $20+ price tags on common
(and sometimes heavily damaged) figures, it is easy to find most common Star
Wars figures for under $10 each. Only a few select figures (POTF figures,
blue Snaggletooth, some rare variations, and a couple of early figures)
command prices over $10. If a figure is missing its accessories or has any
damage (e.g. paint wear), then price drops dramatically. Condition matters
on all toys. Incomplete and/or worn toys are hard to sell and go for a
fraction of the cost of the others, generally $1-3.
Keep in mind that Kenner made over 250,000,000 Star Wars action figures. To
get an idea of that magnitude, that's about as many pennies as the US Mint
issues in a given year for the US population. They're not as rare as some
people think!
2. What's a good price guide/publication for SW collectibles?
Tomart's Guide for Worldwide Star Wars Collectibles is the definitive
publication when it comes to Star Wars collecting. This guide thorough and
lists just about every single known licensed Star Wars collectible. This is
the most essential book in Star Wars collecting, however the prices are
outdated, especially on the Kenner toy line. A revised 1997 edition is
currently available for preorder through the Tomart's website at:
http://www.figures.com/B/tom/tomart_super.cgi?p=BOOKS&cart_id=
Some collectors prefer using the monthly price guide found in Action Figure
News and Toy Review. This publication generally lists the upper limit of
prices that dealers ask for mint complete items.
3. Why is there such a large range in values for POTF figures?
POTF figures are extremely popular with collectors leading to fairly high
prices for some. Some of these figures are much easier to find than other
POTF figures and hence the huge price variance. Also, the demand for figures
like Han Carbonite, Yak Face, and Luke Stormtrooper is much higher than,
say, Ewoks like Romba and Warok.
4. Do fan made figures go up in value over time?
Usually not. It depends if the creator of the fan made figure does "limited
run" or is well known in the collecting community.
On the other hand, if you look at GI Joe and Barbie collecting where custom
figures have grown to tremendous markets; custom figures by well-known
designers can fetch some high prices. It remains to be seen if the same will
happen with Star Wars custom figures.
5. Where are good places to buy/sell/trade, physical and virtual?
In the last few years, the premier place to buy, sell, and maybe even
barter, has been eBay (http://www.ebay.com). However,
rec.arts.sf.starwars.collecting.vintage and
rec.arts.sf.starwars.collecting.misc newsgroups are a great place to find
sales and auctions on the net.
Virtual stores, such as Cloud City Collectables (http://www.cloudcity.com),
The Earth Toy Mall (http://www.theearthtoymall.com) and Brian's Toys
(http://www.brianstoys.com) are also good places to purchase from, but
remember, you will pay a premium with these stores.
Although a former shell of itself, Toy Shop magazine is a good forum for
buying and selling Star Wars collectibles. It also lists toy shows across
the US and in some foreign (to US) countries. The best possible prices for
Star Wars toys are usually found at local toy shows.
Toy Shop is published biweekly on newspaper style paper stock. Many major
comic shops and some bookstores carry Toy Shop. Cost is $33.98 for 1 a year
subscription (26 issues, 2nd class delivery in the US). Foreign or quicker
deliver methods are more expensive. For subscription information, see the
Toy Shop website at: http://www.collect.com/interest/periodical.asp?Pub=TS
or, for charge-card payment, order toll-free at (800) 258-0929.
Also, the best possible way to buy, sell, and trade is to network with other
collectors. Not only will you find what you are looking for, but you may
create lasting friendships.
VI. Non-Kenner Merchandise
1. Is it true that there is a Topps C-3PO penis card? How much is it
worth?
Yes. Some collectors are willing to pay up to US$20 for this curiosity, even
though it is as plentiful as any other Topps Series 4 card. This card was
created when a mischievous Lucasfilm employee "enhanced" the artwork to give
3P0 a "chromie" before it was sent to Topps for printing.
2. What about Foreign Star Wars figures?
Several manufacturers packaged the same figures that Kenner produced in
their own packaging with a different language. An examples of this is
Meccano in France. Other manufacturers actually marketed different figures
such as some produced by Takara of Japan. For more information about foreign
figures, consult Tomart's Price Guide to Worldwide Star Wars Collectibles.
VII. Credits
Coordinator:
Ed Lee (enc...@verizon.net)
Former Coordinator:
Paul Levesque
Contributors:
Dave Halsted
Gus Lopez
Chris Nichols
Martin Thurn
Chris Georgoulias
Adam Pawlus
Wolfgang Schloegl
Thank you for reading the FAQ, hopefully we have been able to answer some of
your initial questions. Once again, please
direct any comments to: Ed Lee (enc...@verizon.net). Please remember that
this document is only intended as an introduction to the group!
Last Updated 1/5/2003