Page 46 - september-23

Toys, Spider-Man Score Big at Hake’s

s mentioned in our last column, we X-Wings. It was the largest display piece that Kenner issued for the
were watching the July 25-26, 2023, original Star Wars toy line.
Asale at Hake’s Auctions with a lot of The Luke Skywalker 12-back-C AFA 85 high-grade example of the
interest. Star Wars toys—and other toys— double-telescoping variety brought $38,940. This version of the toy has a
continued to command significant prices, lightsaber with a second extendable piece that was not present in later
although first, we should highlight the editions of the figure. This example is on an unpunched card.
auction house’s tremendous success with A Boba Fett 21-back-A AFA 85+ (single highest graded example)
Marvel’s Spider-Man. reached $19,470. The card has been partially punched, but the hang tab
A CGC-certified 9.6 example of remains in place, and it does not have a price sticker. This is the nicest
Amazing Spider-Man #1 took the top spot example of the 21-back-A card that Hake’s has offered.
among Hake’s Auctions’ July 25-26, The only known example of the Kenner factory test sample Empire
2023, offerings. In spirited bidding, the Strikes Back Boba Fett 48-back-A AFA 75+ (Taiwan figure) sold for
high-grade second appearance of Spider- $18,880. It is believed to be a pre-production sample due to many
Man surpassed the $350,000 to characteristics which differ from known production versions, including
$500,000 estimate and settled at $520,380. that this Empire Strikes Back carded example contains the Taiwan version
The auction’s combined tally was $3.4 million and included of the figure, previously only known to exist on Return of The Jedi and
The high-grade Amazing political and sports collectibles, as well, and it main- Droids era packaging.
Spider-Man #1 CGC tained Hake’s commanding presence in Star Wars Star Wars sales also included a Jawa 12-back-A AFA 80 with the vinyl
9.6 sold for an collecting circles. cape on an unpunched card for $15,576, a Star Wars: Droids Boba Fett
impressive $520,380.
Spider-Man, though, was front and center. AFA 85 Hong Kong version for $12,980, a Boba Fett 21-back-B AFA 85
Image courtesy of Hake’s Auctions.
Amazing Spider-Man #1 includes the first appearances for $11,922, a Power of the Force Yak Face 92-back AFA 80 (Kenner
of J. Jonah Jameson and the Chameleon, and the first Fantastic Four Canada) on a partially punched card for $11,801. An Android Set three-
crossover. It also retells Spider-Man’s origin and is his first self-titled issue. pack Series 1 AFA 80+ with C-3PO, R2-D2, and Chewbacca for $10,743.
With a story by Stan Lee and cover and art by Steve Ditko, this Silver
Age key issue is fresh-to-market as it was held in a private collection for the OTHER TOYS
last 25 years. It was only recently certified by CGC as one of five copies at Transformers also accounted for some of the auction’s big sellers. The
the grade, with only two copies graded higher. It came from the John B. rare Transformers Series 1 Optimus Prime AFA 80 (Trademark logo,
Goodrich Collection. error box with the light blue trailer) ended at $20,190. Another Series 1
A CGC 7.5 copy of Amazing Fantasy #15, Spidey’s first appearance, Optimus Prime—this one a regular Trademark logo box—AFA 80
sold for $170,844. In addition to the wall-crawler, this issue featured the realized $7,865. A Series 1 Soundwave AFA 80+ (Trademark logo/no
first appearances of Aunt May and Uncle Ben, a story by Lee, a cover by rubsign) went for $15,705 and a Series 1 Jet – Skywarp AFA 80+
Jack Kirby, and art by Ditko. This copy was also from the John B. (Trademark logo/no rubsign/dark gray border) realized $7,074, surpassing
Goodrich Collection. its $5,000 estimate.
A CGC 9.4 Amazing Spider-Man #14 (first appearance of Green Indiana Jones was another hero of the show, which included a set of
Goblin) closed at $38,615, and a CGC 6.5 copy of Amazing Spider-Man Temple of Doom painted hardcopy prototype LJN action figures. The
#1 reached $32,969. Indiana Jones figure went for $3,245 and the Mola Ram for $3,599, and
prototypes for unproduced figures included the Willie
STAR WARS Scott toy for $2,271 and Short Round for
As far as Star Wars goes, there was plenty to talk about. $3,540. A Raiders of the Lost Ark Marion
A Boba Fett rocket-firing prototype (L-slot) AFA 75+ Ravenwood Series 1 4-back AFA 90 sold for
led the Star Wars sales when it rose to $99,297. The $6,426, over the $5,000 estimate.
3-3/4” unpainted prototype was set to be in Kenner’s There were several other toys and related
1979 Star Wars toy line, but it was removed from pieces that sold for well beyond their pre-auc-
production because the rocket-firing capability was tion estimates. A 28” x 34-1/2” die-cut Super
deemed to be a choking hazard. Because the toy did not Powers Collection high-grade double-sided
reach completion, it is among the most desirable store display header advertising figures like
figures from the Star Wars line. This was proven once Superman, Wonder Woman, and Batman
again at Hake’s with the sale of this figure, which did tripled its $5,000 estimate when it sold for
not include the rocket. This large Star Wars Toy Center store $15,705. The Mattel Jayce and the Wheeled
A large, impressive Star Wars Toy Center store pre-auction estimate when it realized $42,689. Warriors Adventure Characters painted hardcopy
display AFA 90 quadrupled its $10,000
display AFA 90 caused a bidding war when it sold for Image courtesy of Hake’s Auctions. prototypes for unproduced figures demolished the
$42,689, crushing the $10,000 estimate. The 25” x 40” $1,000 estimate when the lot sold for $12,057.
double-sided piece that was designed to be a hanging or bin header display
has an image of the Death Star looming in the background while Darth J.C. Vaughn is the President of Gemstone Publishing.
Vader leads a squad of TIE Fighters into battle against approaching Amanda Sheriff is Gemstone's Editor – Digital.
44 Journal of Antiques and Collectibles