Rare Yak Face among Star Wars figures up for sale

A rare collection of Star Wars action figures has been discovered in an attic in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, and is now set to be sold at auction. The toys, which have been stored in their original boxes with price tags still attached, were made by Palitoy in the early 1980s. The collection includes 21 figures that have not been played with much and have been kept in excellent condition for about 40 years. The original owner did not consider himself a collector, but simply kept some toys from his childhood. Now, his wife is selling the collection, and experts believe it could fetch up to £6,000 at auction.

One of the most valuable items in the collection is the Yak Face action figure, which is expected to sell for around £1,000. Yak Face is a character from the 1983 film Return of the Jedi and is considered a 'holy grail' for Star Wars collectors. This is because the toy was never officially sold in the United States, making it extremely rare. Other figures in the collection include Anakin Skywalker, which could sell for between £120 and £180, R2-D2 with a pop-up lightsaber, expected to go for £300 to £400, Amanaman, which could reach £350, and Luke Skywalker, with a guide price of £200 to £300.

David Wilson-Turner, a toy expert at Hansons Auctioneers, explained that Palitoy was initially hesitant to produce Star Wars toys because the film was not well known at the time. However, after the movie became a huge success, Palitoy's Star Wars toys became highly sought after, especially since the company produced fewer toys than its American counterpart, Kenner. This makes Palitoy's Star Wars figures particularly appealing to collectors on both sides of the Atlantic. The auction will take place in Etwall, Derbyshire, on July 24. The story highlights how toys from the past, especially those kept in mint condition, can become valuable treasures over time.