Boba Fett
A few years ago, I covered the sale of a rare Boba Fett Star Wars action figure that fetched a jaw-dropping $236,000. Recently, another elusive Boba Fett figure has emerged at auction and shattered that previous record, becoming the most valuable vintage toy sold at auction.
Boba Fett, the mysterious Mandalorian bounty hunter from the Star Wars saga, has held a dedicated fanbase since his introduction to the franchise. While he made his first appearance in the much-maligned 1978 Star Wars Holiday Special, the 1980 film The Empire Strikes Back is really where the Boba Fett fandom began. Renowned for his sleek Mandalorian armor and lethal skills, he swiftly became a fan favorite despite his brief appearance. He played a pivotal role in the original trilogy, initially recruited by Darth Vader to hunt down Han Solo and Princess Leia. His dramatic demise occurs in Return of the Jedi (1983), when Solo causes his jetpack to malfunction, and he falls into the Sarlacc Pit to be devoured. However, the recent live-action Star Wars television shows indicate that this was not the complete end of Boba Fett’s story.
At the recent auction, the Rocket-Firing Boba Fett action figure fetched an astonishing $525,000, captivating collectors worldwide. This remarkable price underscores the pristine condition of the action figure, sought after for its rare “rocket-firing” feature despite never passing safety tests. Only two hand-painted prototypes produced by Kenner in 1979 exist today, making this piece a priceless relic of Star Wars merchandise. Its journey from obscurity to fame began with a Kenner employee’s foresight, who rescued it from a box of discarded toys, recognizing its potential value and ensuring its legacy.