A rare Star Wars figure, found in a Northampton loft with its £1.59 price tag still attached sold for more than £3,000 on Thursday <July 24>.
Although the character Yak Face only appears for a few seconds in the 1983 film, Return of the Jedi, it is a ‘holy grail’ to collectors.
The figure, one of 15 others which had languished unopened for more than 40 years in a Wellingborough loft, made a total of £6,880 at Hansons Auctioneers’ sale on Thursday <July 24>.
With bidders from as far afield of Denmark all keen for a slice of the action, Yak Face sold to a trade buyer from Lancashire.
Hansons Auctioneer’s toy expert David Wilson-Turner said: “The figures came from the vendor’s husband’s collection. He didn’t collect as such, just toys from his childhood that didn’t get played with much. She was delighted with the result.”
Yak Face, a member of Jabba the Hutt’s entourage, is ultra rare and famous for being one of the ‘Last 17’.
These were a final, and much sought-after group of figures, produced between 1984 and 1985, as interest in the original Star Wars trilogy had begun to wane.
The action figures were all made in Palitoy in Coalville, Leicestershire.
Wilson-Turner continued: “Palitoy secured the rights ro produce Star Wars toys in UK. While America went on produce the franchise’s merchandise in the millions, Palitoy’s output was more modest, making it all the more appealing to collectors both sides of the Atlantic.”
And because Yak Face, was never officially sold in the US, it is now a must-have for diehard collectors.
The second highest seller at the sale at Hansons Auctioneers’ Etwall saleroom near Derby was a Palitoy-made figure of Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) with pop-up lightsabre which beat its pre-sale guide price of £300-£400, to sell for £520. A Warok expected to sell for £150-£200 sold for £340.
Auction Details
Auction: The July Derby Diecast, Model Railway, Live Steam & Collectable Toys and Cameras Auction
Auction date: 24th July 2025 | 9:30am
Location: Hansons Derbyshire Saleroom
Auction contact: [email protected]
Catalogue/bidding: www.hansonslive.co.uk | www.the-saleroom.com
