Record-breaking sale of Star Wars Boba Fett action figure fetches $525,000 | Entertainment and Arts Update
An incredibly rare Star Wars action figure has set a new record as the most valuable toy in the world, selling for a staggering $525,000 (£411,000).
The hand-painted, missile-firing version of the bounty hunter Boba Fett was never released to the public due to safety concerns in the 1970s.
This toy, one of only two remaining, surpassed the previous record held by a one-of-a-kind Barbie adorned with a one-carat diamond, which sold for $302,000 (£236,000) in 2010.
Heritage Auctions revealed that this figure more than doubled the previous record for the most expensive Star Wars action figure sold at auction, previously held by a rocket-firing Boba Fett that fetched $236,000 (£185,000) in 2022.
The toy was produced by the Kenner toy company in 1979, inspired by the character set to appear in The Empire Strikes Back the following year.
This specific toy, with a “rocket firing back pack”, was not available for purchase, but was meant to be sent as a gift to those who could prove they had bought four other Star Wars action figures.
However, these rocket-equipped toys never reached consumers due to concerns about choking hazards following reports about Mattel’s missile-firing Battlestar Galactica toys.
When the figure finally arrived, the rocket had been permanently fixed in place with a note explaining the safety concerns.
It is believed that around 100 prototypes were made, but only two were hand-painted, including this one.
This specific toy survived after being discovered in a box of discarded toys designated for employees to take home, according to a letter of provenance from Star Wars expert and dealer Brian Rachfal.
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“The rocket-firing Boba Fett action figure has long been an iconic myth known around the world, even by those who do not collect toys,” said Joe Maddalena, the executive vice president of Heritage Auctions.
“We had a feeling this item had the potential to break records, and it was truly exciting to witness it become the most valuable toy ever sold.”
The Star Wars Signature auction raised $1,662,000 (£1,301,000) with over 1,500 bidders participating.
The auction also featured a second Boba Fett figure, a Skywalker lightsaber, and the third draft of George Lucas’ screenplay for the first film, initially titled The Star Wars: From The Adventures Of Luke Starkiller.
