DUBAI: A Dubai-based Star Wars fan is selling his rare collection of 33 Star Wars figurines for Dh1.32 million next week through Heritage Auction, a Texas-based agency that sells collectibles from around the world.
First shot prototypes
Heritage Auction’s vintage comic expert Aaron White told XPRESS via e-mail, “Star Wars action figures from the late 1970s and early 1980s are highly valued collectibles, but these ‘first shot’ prototypes that are famously known as the ‘Dubai Collection’ are glued and painted by hand, making them the most valuable figures you could ever own.” According to him, the owner, who wishes to remain anonymous, bought these pieces, released in the late 1970s, at the beginning of the Star Wars mania.
The collection includes mint condition figures for Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia and Han Solo together with pre-production prototypes. It also includes a hand-painted prototype of Obi-Wan Kenobi, from 1977, which is expected to sell for Dh92,000 ($25,000) and one of the five known prototypes for Bib Fortuna – a character considered to be the rarest of all Star Wars figures, which is expected to sell for over Dh110,000.
The auction will take place from August 2 to 4 in Texas but interested buyers from Dubai or anywhere in the world can participate through the online link www.ha.com, added White.
