Clear bubble AFA 85 Anakin POTF

[Joe]

I hear Tatsie was after one?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Star-Wars-POTF-Anakin-Skywalker-MOC-AFA-85-/150622495930?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item2311cce4ba#ht_3308wt_1139

 

[itfciain]

Wow - now that it a nice item - but bloody expensive !!

 

[Capetown]

Hmm nice price. :shock: You've got to love those clear bubbles though.

 

[Caswellbot]

Errrm. Wow. Price tag to match though. Ouch!

 

[Chewie]

Holy Crap! How much? Why.... :?

 

[Joe]

Up for sale is a vintage Star Wars Power of the Force Anakin Skywalker MOC in AFA 85 (NM+) condition. The sub-grades on this piece are: Card 80, Bubble 85, Figure 85. Historically clear bubble Anakins have been difficult to find since the mid 1990s. I have heard of only a handful spanning all condition ranges myself. The clear bubble makes a far greater difference on this figure than most others. There is something about the bright silver coin above the figure rather than the yellowed tint. There are presently 4 examples which have graded as 85 clear by AFA over the past decade. However, I'm relatively certain that there will never be another because AFA changed the "Y" labeling criteria several years ago to include the smaller plastic insert behind a figure. Every known example, including the 4 graded as 85 clear have some yellowing to the plastic insert behind the figure. Due to the figure's size and shape, this is very difficult to notice from the front, and the outer bubble is completely clear. The last time 1 of these 4 examples changed hands that I'm aware of was the 2008 PCA auction where it sold for $12,000. Prior to that sale, other examples have sold as high as $15,000. The owner of this example is motivated to sell and will consider serious offers. This creates a rare opportunity to own one of the most sought after figures in vintage Star Wars for a bargain price, considering this figure's condition and rarity. Take advantage of this unique opportunity. With only 4 examples known, there is a very real possibility this could be the last example ever offered for sale.

 

[Chewie]

It's a £12 figure at best :wink: Its mad when you think about it....All that money for the rare cardboard and plastic bubble :?

 

[Joe]

Many times I have pondered what we actually pay the big bucks for when it comes to carded figures, sure it's the whole package (unopened figure, graphics on the card etc) but the majority of the time when you think about why you would personally pay X amount for a figure -it all comes down to the bubble.

My criteria for buying is only that a MOC has to be fully sealed without cracks, others love perfectly clear bubbles but it shows you that the value of most things is pretty much in that shitty bit of plastic that covers the figure!

Mad but then I guess paying any kind of good money for toys is a bit crazy, we are a special breed :lol:

 

[Chewie]

If you spent the $12,000 for that MOC because it was your grain piece.....Or any other expensive rare carded figure. How much would it be worth if you kept it for 5 years or so and then the glue or bubble deteriorated and the figure flopped out like a dying salmon onto your display shelf?

Does that send shivers down your spine? :? :lol:

 

[Joe]

Yep would be a pretty horrible thing to happen, I hope insurance covers people against natural ageing lol

I think you have to be very smart with what you invest money into sometimes, putting a 10K premium on a clear bit of plastic that could probably turn yellow in 1 year is not for me.

 

[Caswellbot]

With all due respect Neil, the same could be said for the Palitoy Vader you just bought. It is a relatively cheap figure but as soon as it comes up on a Palitoy 12 Back card the valuation changes dramatically.

I guess at the end of the day you are simply paying for that "untouched" slice of history.

Dont get me wrong, I think its a crazy price too, but there is no denying it is rare as rocking horse **** in that condition. I wouldnt be parting with that sort of cash (if i had it) though for sure. There are rarer items out there available for alot less IMO. :|

 

[Josh]

.

 

[Chewie]

With all due respect Neil, the same could be said for the Palitoy Vader you just bought. It is a relatively cheap figure but as soon as it comes up on a Palitoy 12 Back card the valuation changes dramatically.

I guess at the end of the day you are simply paying for that "untouched" slice of history.

Dont get me wrong, I think its a crazy price too, but there is no denying it is rare as rocking horse **** in that condition. I wouldnt be parting with that sort of cash (if i had it) though for sure. There are rarer items out there available for alot less IMO. :|

Its buying the Vader that got me thinking after then i seeing that damaged Palitoy Vader on Ebay....A £600+ carded figure turned into £100 overnight :? If the vader had come off the card it would have been much less. There is A LOT of money to lose by buying high end carded figures.....and even afa doesn't help you there. There's a guy on RS selling a Droids R2 MOC that once graded 90, and now its got a massive split in the bubble :shock: All i'm saying is it makes you think, thats all :wink:

 

[Caswellbot]

Without a doubt Neil. I couldnt agree more.

Preservation is key. Move them as little as possible. Dont look at them too much and whatever you do ..... dont feed them after midnight! :lol:

 

[Chewie]

Without a doubt Neil. I couldnt agree more.

Preservation is key. Move them as little as possible. Dont look at them too much and whatever you do ..... dont feed them after midnight! :lol:

:lol: :lol: I love that film :lol:

 

[Caswellbot]

Probably best not to get them wet either! :wink:

 

[Capetown]

Maybe, Rick Springfield will buy it :lol:

He well might.

Plenty of SW collectors who don't know what to do with their money.

 

[itfciain]

I have just bought an Droids Uncle Gundy figure from ebay - it is AFA Graded 90 but the bubble has practically burst and the weapon has dropped out. I could tell how upset the guy selling it was that I had managed to buy it at a price no higher than a loose one would sell for.

You wonder what is going to happen to some of the figures in the next 20 years and with yellowing, glue drying and bubbles splitting, it does make you wonder how much some of these might be worth

 

[silver grin]

interesting point Iain.

I did have one of those Luke theatre edition moc's on the green potf cards released when the special editions were released at the cinema in the mid to late 90's. When I went up in the loft about a year ago I took it out of the star case and saw that the bubble had started to come away from the card.

Has anyone done any research about the glue that holds the bubble and how long it is supposed to last? I'm exactly like Joe - the only thing I care about is the condition of the bubble and if there are any cracks/splits or if the bubble is not 100% sealed then I will not buy it.

 

[Joe]

Has anyone done any research about the glue that holds the bubble and how long it is supposed to last? I'm exactly like Joe - the only thing I care about is the condition of the bubble and if there are any cracks/splits or if the bubble is not 100% sealed then I will not buy it.

There was no glue used actually, the bubble was attached to the card by force and heat, you can see how figures were sealed to the card in the Palitoy factory in the video in this thread - http://www.imperialgunneryforum.com/t1110-vintage-moc-collecting-the-discussion-and-information-thread (22 seconds in)

The pressure used to seal the figures can be seen on the back of many cards that have a crease- the larger the crease the more forced was applied to the card and bubble when it was produced. On the flip side, if a figure was not sealed with the right amount of pressure or heat it can lift easily or not be fully sealed all the way around.

I was going to add a section in that thread on all known bubble seals but it fell by the wayside when I decided to start my site.

Personally, I think unless you handle them awkwardly or store them upside down / hang your washing from them they won't fall off any time soon.