Unless you have been living in a galaxy far, far away, you will have undoubtably heard of Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Obi-Wan Kenobi, Chewbacca, or Princess Leia. The first feature film of this epic series was released in 1977 thereafter, the iconic franchise has produced sequels, prequals and spinoffs throughout the decades that followed and amassed a vast cult following.  Indeed, the huge number of enthusiasts ensures that  memorabilia fetches from a few pounds to a million pounds.There are currently eleven Star Wars movies in total. Creator George Lucas made the lucrative decision to produce licensed merchandise for each film, which was unheard of in 1977. These early products are highly prized and collectable at auction. Toys, posters, signed photographs, props, books, magazines, video games, pretty much anything historically related to the films is in demand.

George Lucas was inspirational in the concept of a merchandising deal in 1977, however he really struggled to find a toy company to work with and eventually Kenner came along but so late there was little Merchandise available for the film launch. Kenner also only agreed an initial investment of about £65,000. First year sales of toys were about £65m!

How history has proved Lucas right, according to the Guinness Book of Records Star Wars is the most successful film for spin off merchandising in history.

The other thing Lucas struggled with was finding a film company to make the film with. 20th Century Fox eventually taking it on as a vanity project to secure Lucas for future projects. They even gave him the merchandising rights as part of the deal! Of the companies to turn him down in 1977 was Disney who in 2012 brought the Star Wars franchise rights for close to four billion pounds.

The value of Star Wars memorabilia can vary greatly depending on several factors, including age, rarity, condition, and demand from collectors. Rare and well-preserved items from the original trilogy, Episode IV: A New Hope (1977) this is known as Star Wars to all who grew up with it and on all the original merchandising, Episode V: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Episode VI: Return of the Jedi (1983), such as vintage action figures or limited-edition merchandise, tend to fetch the highest prices on the collector's market. Figures that weren’t popular at the time of their release, for example Boba Fett, have shot up in value in recent years and rare prototypes are highly coveted. The first wave of Darth Vader toy figures featured a telescopic lightsaber which was discontinued, these figures are now worth up to several thousands of pounds.

On the other hand, more modern and mass-produced items may have a lower intrinsic value, unless they are part of a limited run or have unique features. Factors like packaging, authenticity, and the item's historical significance can also play a role in determining its worth but all are keenly sought after by collectors.

Each film and spinoff has yielded a variety of different edition posters, recognisable by style and fantasy imagery, which can range from small amounts to thousands of pounds. Props such as lightsabers, pistols, helmets, masks, miniature models, set costumes and much more achieve anywhere from a few hundred pounds upwards. Mind blowingly, the original R2D2 film prop achieved over £2 million when it went to auction in 2017!

 The Star Wars fan base extends across several generations, and their quest to recreate the nostalgia of this era in history is unlikely to die down anytime soon. From a Millenium Falcon prop model to an AT-AT toy, it is fair to say that the collectable market for Star Wars memorabilia is limitless, offering enthusiasts and budding collectors an entry to this vibrant collecting scene at significantly different price points. 

Star Wars merchandise is included in our monthly collectable toy auctions and we hold a global record auction price for a Palitoy Star Wars carded C-P30 from 1977 with a twelve back unpunched card which sold for £900. So have a look in your cupboards and attic and see if you have any collectable Star Wars memorabilia.