Hake's Auctions March Premier Auction Recap | Vintage Graded Star Wars Action Figures
The Action Figure Grader reviews standout items from Hake's Auctions March Premier Auction, noting exceptionally high prices for vintage Star Wars collectibles. Many items significantly exceeded expectations, suggesting strong high-end market conditions despite broader economic uncertainties.
Summary
The video analyzes results from Hake's Auctions March Premier Auction, focusing on vintage Star Wars action figures and collectibles that sold for surprisingly high prices. The host begins by highlighting a 1994 Topps Star Wars Galaxy's Series 2 trading card original art piece by Ken Bar that sold for $27,584, noting how Hake's accurate $15-25k estimate demonstrates their expertise in valuing rare items. The auction featured numerous high-grade Star Wars action figures that commanded premium prices, including an AFA 95 vinyl cape Jawa that sold for $55,152 and various punched examples that exceeded expectations. Notable sales included a 12-back Luke Skywalker AFA 85 for $14,700 and a 12-back Princess Leia AFA 90 for $13,682. The host speculates that current market conditions may be driving collectors toward tangible assets as traditional investments like stocks, Bitcoin, and gold have declined. The auction also featured rare items like Hungarian bootlegs from 1987, with one qualified AFA 85 selling for $25,726, and Australian exclusives. Some items proved to be good deals, including a 21-back Boba Fett AFA 85 for $9,665 and a Sears exclusive Greedo and blue Snaggletooth set for $1,934. The host emphasizes that while these high-end prices may seem astronomical, there are similar items available at more reasonable prices through dealers like Rogue 5 Toys.
Key Insights
- The speaker argues that wealthy collectors are diversifying away from traditional investments like stocks, Bitcoin, and gold due to market corrections, driving money into high-end collectibles
- The speaker claims that Hake's Auctions demonstrated remarkable accuracy in their value estimates, particularly citing a 1994 Topps Star Wars trading card original art piece estimated at $15-25k that sold for $27,584
- The speaker observes that there are currently four times as many AFA 90 vinyl cape Jawas compared to AFA 95 examples, explaining the significant price difference between grades
- The speaker notes that Return of the Jedi figures consistently sell for inexplicably high prices, citing examples of common items like Gammorian Guards and B-wing Pilots selling for 3-4 times expected values
- The speaker reveals that Hungarian bootleg figures from 1987 significantly exceeded his expectations, with one qualified AFA 85 selling for $25,726 when he predicted it wouldn't reach $15,000
Topics
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