Star Wars toy found in a 99p Tesco bargain bin in Yardley to sell for £1,000

A rare Star Wars toy which was hunted out of a bargain bin for 99p is set to sell for £1,000.

A canny collector snapped up a Yak-Face figure from Return of the Jedi at Tesco at the Swan Shopping Centre in Yardley in the 1980s.

Originally priced at £1.59, it was marked down for a quick sale.

It was kept sealed in the original packaging and it is now tipped to sell at auction for between £800 and £1,000.

The figure was bought by another collector who then spent 20 years hunting down more toys from the film trilogy.

His collection of 37 figures is set to go under the hammer and is expected to fetch a total of £20,000.

The 48-year-old, who works in financial services in Birmingham, said: “I remember seeing lots of figures for sale for 10p each in a shop called Crash Bang Wallop in the Swan Shopping Centre, in about 1986, when interest in the films had waned.

“I was still at school and they had a full box of about 50 toys, all rare examples of the last 17 figures.

“How I wished I had the money at the time. I just bought one and it’s still in my played-with collection.

"I’ve been a big Star Wars fan since the films first came out.

“I purchased the figures about 20 years ago as an investment to go with my played-with collection from when I was a child.

“My favourite lot is a figure of Anakin Skywalker.

“It’s rare as the original actor’s appearance in the films has been cut with a different actor.

“I’m surprised by the rarity value of some of the toys as they were much more common when I purchased them.

“I’m selling now as I have a family and struggle to find anywhere to display them safely. It feels like the right time to sell.”

What Star Wars figures are included in the collection?

The most valuable figure, Anakin Skywalker, is expected to sell for between £3,000 and £5,000.

Meanwhile another 1984 Kenner Yak-Face figure is set to fetch between £2,000 and £3,000.

A figure of Luke Skywalker dressed as an Imperial Stormtrooper from Star Wars that still has its “Tesco 99p” offer price label is estimated to go for £800.

The Power of the Force Nikto with Warok Ewok coin is also expected to sell for between £500 and £800.

When and where is the Star Wars collection being sold?

The Star Wars collection will go under the hammer at Hansons Auctioneers, Etwall, Derbyshire, on April 20.

Auctioneer David Wilson Turner said: “The Jedi Yak-Face with its original 99p price sticker is fairly rare, hence the guide price.

“It’s amazing to think a Star Wars toy on sale for less than £1 in 1983 is now potentially worth 1000 times its original price tag.

“Our vendor didn’t purchase it for 99p originally but sourced it 20 years ago for £200.

“Hansons has seen some impressive Star Wars toy collections including one which made nearly £10,000 at auction, but this is set to be the best yet.

"Our seller has amassed a phenomenal set of figures.

“There are Star Wars collectors all over the world and the clamour to own rare items is as strong as ever.”

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