Illinois Man’s Closet Is A Gold Mine For Star Wars Toy Collectors
It's a good day to be a Star Wars fan because a collection of over 300 pristine action figures has just emerged from a collector's closet in Chicago, a find that is sure to send collectors into a frenzy. Dubbed "The Morphy Find," these vintage toys have been discontinued since 1985 and are all in mint condition, packaged in their original Kenner factory boxes.
Senior IT expert and Star Wars fanatic Chuck Lang was enlisted to catalog the collection, according to Star Wars News Net. The question on everyone's mind is: how do you put a price on priceless works of art and history?
As fans of the franchise know, toys have always been an important part of the Star Wars universe, bringing the galaxy far, far away into the hands of both kids and adults. And even in this digital age, physical toys have not lost their popularity.
The history of the original Star Wars action figures is closely linked to the uncertainty surrounding the release of the movie itself. After a rocky production process and a skeptical cast and crew, few people expected Star Wars to be a success. But when it was released in 1977, demand for merchandise was so high that toy company Kenner couldn't keep up.
As a solution, they sold boxes containing an Early Bird Certificate that people could fill out and send in the mail. Once Kenner had caught up with demand, they would send back a special four-figure set including Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, R2-D2, and Chewbacca.
What Is This Rare Collection Worth?
Some of the highlights of "The Morphy Find" include the Luke Skywalkers with double-telescoping lightsabers, which are now worth up to $20,000 and would make any collector feel like they struck gold on Tatooine. There are also the original 21 figures released by Kenner, including a "Death Commander" that was pulled because the manufacturer decided the word "death" was not suitable for kids.
This rare figure is sure to make any collector feel like they've found the missing piece to their collection, like Han Solo finding the last of the coaxium in Solo: A Star Wars Story.
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This is a once-in-a-lifetime find, "The Morphy Find" is a reminder of how timeless the Star Wars franchise has become. While the monetary value of its merchandise only increases over time, its value to fans will always remain priceless. May the force be with you, and may your toy collection be as valuable as this one. So, it's time to channel your inner Jedi and use the force to track down these rare treasures.
Check out the booklet on all the items up for auction here.