Rare Yak Face Star Wars figure sells for £2,100

A rare Star Wars action figure known as Yak Face has made headlines after being sold at an auction for a surprising amount of money. The Yak Face toy comes from the 1983 movie Return of the Jedi and was found in an attic in Wellingborough, Northamptonshire, where it had been stored for four decades. Along with Yak Face, there were several other Star Wars figures, all still in their original boxes and with their old price tags showing £1. 59. These toys had not been played with much and were kept in great condition, which made them even more valuable to collectors.

The Yak Face figure is especially rare because it was never officially sold in the United States, making it a highly sought-after item for Star Wars fans and collectors around the world. Before the auction, experts thought the figure would sell for about £1,000, but it ended up being bought for £2,100, more than double the expected price. In total, the 15 unopened Star Wars figures sold for £5,460. The collection was put up for sale by the wife of the original owner, who explained that her husband was not a serious collector and had simply kept the toys from his childhood without playing with them much.

Another figure from the collection, R2-D2, sold for £520. All the toys were made by Palitoy, a company based in Coalville, Leicestershire, during the early 1980s. The Yak Face character only appeared briefly in Return of the Jedi as part of Jabba the Hutt’s group, but its rarity has made it the most valuable item in the collection. The auction was held by Hansons Auctioneers in Derbyshire, and there was interest from collectors around the world. However, the Yak Face figure was ultimately bought by a collector in England. The auctioneer, David Wilson-Turner, said the owner’s wife was thrilled with the results. The story of these toys shows how items from the past, especially those kept in good condition, can become valuable treasures years later.