Release timelines of Palitoy ESB 30B and ESB 41 Back figures?

[Chancellor_Peter]

Question for the Palitoy : EMPIRE STRIKES BACK carded figure experts here. I will like to know when did Palitoy release the ESB 30B carded figures in the UK? This is the wave that contained the second series of ESB figures i.e. Han Solo (Bespin Outfit), Leia (Hoth Outfit), AT-AT Driver, Imperial Commander, Rebel Commander, Ugnaught, Lobot and 2-1B except for Dengar. Yoda (Brown Snake) and Boba Fett also made their debut on this cardback.

Will also like to know when did Palitoy follow up with the release of their ESB 41A, 41AN, 41B, 41BN and 41C cardbacks? Did Palitoy release the ESB 41C immediately after their ESB 41B carded figures?

Thanks!

P.S. I posted this topic in Star Wars Forum Facebook Group at https://www.facebook.com/groups/918305588283414 on 12 April 2016.

 

[chipsteak]

I believe that second wave of ESB came out in Spring 1981 so that would mark the debut of those figures on 30b. I don't remember waiting that long for Fett so I suspect the 30b was introduced , for existing figures, shortly after the 30a . This is based on long term memory so make of that what you will. I can never find definitive info in release dates.

 

[palitoyjunky]

I wish I had childhood memories like that about the 12,20 &30 backs :!: It's just my memories started a little after those eras

 

[sith-smith]

Sadly I don't remember a thing.

I was only around 8 when ESB came out and all I cared about was ripping that figure of the card.

I have very few ESB cardbacks left from my childhood and do not remember when I got them.

Plus so many different cardbacks were on the shelves at the same time...including kenner

 

[chipsteak]

Well my long term memory is great, or more accurately, I THINK it's great. I've been proved wrong on these things before. My over-confidence is my weakness.

I remember getting the chance to rummage through a case in a newsagents shop. This was Post-ROTJ. They were mostly 30 backs or, as I knew them, those cards I hadn't seen in years with the funny coloured figures on the back.

I found a Power Droid there too which was giving me jip tracking one down. Collectors sites like Jason's make me think that it's unlikely the Gonk was on a 30 tho!

 

[Chancellor_Peter]

I believe that second wave of ESB came out in Spring 1981 so that would mark the debut of those figures on 30b. I don't remember waiting that long for Fett so I suspect the 30b was introduced , for existing figures, shortly after the 30a . This is based on long term memory so make of that what you will. I can never find definitive info in release dates.

Hi Chipsteak,

Thank you for your inputs to the first part of the question that I have been searching for, which is the time of release of the Palitoy ESB 30B carded figures. Your childhood memory is remarkable give and take a few days into Spring 1981. Truth to be told there won't be any universal definite release dates, but if we go by the Seasons and Year, we can getting pretty close.

Spring 1981 was also the time when U.S. Kenner officially released the second series of the 9 ESB figures including Dengar on their then new TESB 41A "Survival Kit Offer" cardbacks.

 

[Chancellor_Peter]

Sadly I don't remember a thing.

I was only around 8 when ESB came out and all I cared about was ripping that figure of the card.

I have very few ESB cardbacks left from my childhood and do not remember when I got them.

Plus so many different cardbacks were on the shelves at the same time...including kenner

No worries Gary, thanks for responding to my PM over at FB and dropping by with your inputs.

 

[sith-smith]

Sadly I don't remember a thing.

I was only around 8 when ESB came out and all I cared about was ripping that figure of the card.

I have very few ESB cardbacks left from my childhood and do not remember when I got them.

Plus so many different cardbacks were on the shelves at the same time...including kenner

No worries Gary, thanks for responding to my PM over at FB and dropping by with your inputs.

Sorry I couldn't have been of more help. It is information that would be good to know!

 

[Chancellor_Peter]

Well my long term memory is great, or more accurately, I THINK it's great.....

Hi chipsteak,

From your posted replies, your long term memory is good today as it was back in 1981 Let's say the Palitoy 30B figures were released sometime in Spring 1981, do you have any personal childhood recollections when in 1981 they followed up with the release of these cardbacks?

Palitoy ESB 41A

Palitoy ESB 41B

 

[chipsteak]

No. But I'm going to guess that the 41s came quite soon. Only because I don't remember getting figures that weren't displayed on the cardback for very long. But, maybe I was getting some Kenner 41 backs to clue me up on what figures were in the wave. My guess is that the transition happened in 1981 as I do remember looking at the 41s for a while.

So, I don't have a clue basically.

ETA I do remember getting an IG-88 on a Kenner card and wondering what it was, so which 41s I saw first will remain a mystery.

ETA . A way to work out a rough guess would be finding out which were more common: an ATAT Driver on a Pali 30 back compared with one on a Pali 41. Bearing in mind that the third wave of ESB figures appeared circa Spring 1982, if the two examples were equally common ( for example ), I'd guess the changeover happened in Autumn 1982.

As you may have noticed, I'm clutching at straws.