Encore! Hake’s May 15 Sale of Jeff Jacob Collection Part II Clears $1.2M, Marking Their Second $1M+ Auction Exclusively Devoted to Action Figures

1978 Star Wars Darth Vader ‘12 Back A’ Double Telescoping Light Saber Was Bid to $130,095, World Record Price for Production Action Figure of Any Type from Any Toy Line

YORK, Pa. – Earlier this year, Hake’s made headlines worldwide as the first auction house ever to break the million-dollar mark with an auction focused exclusively on action figures. The company’s high-profile sale of the Jeff Jacob Collection Part I rocketed to $1.45 million and included a Kenner 1978 Star Wars Double-Telescoping Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi 12 Back-A action figure that sold for $105,182, a world auction record for a figure of its type. Less than four months later, on May 15, Hake’s returned to the auction spotlight with Part II of the Jacob Collection, which closed at $1.2 million and became the second action-figure-specific sale in history to land in seven-figure territory. Adding extra luster to the May sale’s results, its top lot, a Kenner Star Wars (1978) Darth Vader 12 Back-A Double-Telescoping (DT) action figure, blazed its way to an unheard-of $130,095, the highest auction price ever paid for a production action figure of any type from any toy line. 

Hake’s had previously held the record for the highest-priced action figure ever sold at auction. That record would later be surpassed elsewhere, but for only a brief period of time. It was reclaimed by Hake’s, and quite decisively so, with the meteoric performance of the Darth Vader figure on May 15.

The Double Telescoping Light Saber-wielding figure of Galactic Empire antagonist Vader had been issued an AFA grade of 80 NM. It was only the fourth carded DT specimen of its type ever to be offered by Hake’s and the first they had ever handled in its high grade. At the time of its cataloging, AFA’s Population Report indicated that only nine examples of its type had ever been graded, with only four assigned an AFA 80 grade and just one graded higher. Bidding on the coveted figure opened at $25,000 and escalated to a hefty $130,095, clinching its title as top-selling production action figure of all time.

A Kenner Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1983) Jabba the Hutt Action Playset advertised as containing “Two Star Wars Creatures And One Platform With Prisoner Gates” was outfitted with a humorous movable figure of Jabba the Hutt and a smaller figure of Salacious Crumb. The platform base was designed with monster-head attachments for use in opening the gates. Additionally, the set came with a hookah-like accessory piece, Jabba’s pipe bowl. At the time of cataloging, only nine examples of the playset were recorded in an AFA 85 grade according to current AFA Population Report, with none graded higher. Against a $1,000-$2,000 estimate, it confidently claimed a winning bid of $38,940, a world auction record for a playset of its type.

From Kenner Canada’s 1985 Star Wars: The Power of the Force range, a Yak Face 92 Back AFA 90 Y-NM/Mint 4in action figure was blister-carded together with its matching aluminum collector’s coin. One of only eight examples of its type in an AFA 90 grade, per the AFA Population Report at the time of cataloging, it was also the first of its type in this incredibly high grade ever to be offered by Hake’s. It sold within its estimate range for a world-record $23,738.

A Kenner Star Wars (1979) mailer envelope with a return address from “Maple Plain Company” contained a sealed baggie with a 3.75-inch-tall Kenner action figure of Boba Fett, plus an introductory slip and large Kenner catalog booklet. It’s extremely uncommon to find this figure in its mailer envelope. The auction example was the first of its type that Hake’s had ever offered. At the time of cataloging, only five examples in total had been AFA-graded, with only two in an AFA 85 grade (none higher). Estimated at $2,000-$5,000, it was bid to a world-record $22,066. 

In its original factory-sealed box, an impressive Kenner Star Wars (1979) Darth Vader TIE Fighter vehicle with flashing “laser” light and “space sound” was AFA-graded 85 NM+. It was described by Hake’s specialists as one of only seven known examples in that grade as of the time of cataloging, with none graded higher in the AFA Population Report. Adding to its scarcity, it isn’t seen very often in the public marketplace. The only comparable example Hake’s had ever auctioned came from the Russell Branton collection, which they auctioned in 2019. The TIE Fighter in the May sale – which was not the same one previously owned by Branton – sold for an above-estimate, world-record auction price of $21,240.

Star Wars collectors will go the extra mile for prototypes, unusual variants and mail-in offers. A Kenner Star Wars (1979) boxed “Special Offer” version of the Action Display Stand, which was first available as a mail-away in 1978, was not a regular-release Kenner toy. It was produced solely as a special-offer item for larger retailers. The mail-away version came with a sticker label bearing the names of Kenner’s first 12 Star Wars figures, however the 1979 release, which was never widely available to consumers, featured a new sticker because additional figures had been added to the toyline since its inception. The picture box for this great toy contains an Action Display Stand with an illustrated full-color backdrop and instruction sheet. It holds 12 figures and is designed with action levers to move the figures back and forth. Against an estimate of $5,000-$10,000, it sold for $16,550, a world-record auction price for a toy of its particular type.

Another unusual entry was a Lili Ledy Stars Wars: Return of the Jedi/La Guerra de las Galaxias: El Regreso del Jedi (1983) Squid Head action figure, 3.75 inches tall, with Spanish-language text on the card. A very rare production, it was cataloged in Hake’s sale as the “only known and single highest-graded example,” per the AFA Population Report. Against a pre-sale estimate of $5,000-$10,000, it rose to a world-record $15,616. 

From the world of GI Joe, the most popular lot of the day was a Hasbro (1984) Attack Vehicle (VAMP) and Heavy Artillery Laser (HAL) Series 3 Vehicle. This very rare and iconic Sears-exclusive 2-pack was AFA-graded 75 EX+/NM and presented in its factory-sealed box. At the time of cataloging, it was one of only six graded examples shown in AFA Population Report, with only two examples in grade 75 (only four higher). It declared victory at $12,980 against an estimate of $5,000-$10,000.

After the auction concluded, Hake’s president, Alex Winter, remarked: “Collector interest in the Jeff Jacob Collection has been phenomenal so far. The quality and rarity of its contents is what has led to our becoming the first auction house to produce consecutive million-dollar-plus action-figure sales. It is a testament to Jeff’s decades of astute collecting that these milestones have been achieved. We’re honored and excited to continue auctioning additional installments of his astonishing collection later this year.” 

To discuss consigning a collection or single item to a future Hake’s pop culture memorabilia auction, call +1 866-404-9800 (toll-free) or +1 717-434-1600; or email [email protected]. All enquiries are kept strictly confidential. Visit Hake’s online at https://hakes.com/.