Ok guys. I have been watching this thread with interest and thought it was time I added my 2 cents to all this:
I have been collecting Star Wars (as an adult) since around 1992. I bought lots of stuff via mail order from the likes of Wendy Wandsworth, Terry and Monica Deegan, etc. I joined the SW Appreciation Society (run by a certain Stephen Nelmes). I remember some of the Rotj Palitoys around then and some (esp hoth stormtrooper) had shabbily applied blisters, and even remains of glue over the card. I still believe that these were simply the last of the last to get knocked out by Palitoy. Sure, look at many of the tri miscards?!
I have been buying carded figures from Toni for a long time. I was always well chuffed with the quality. Toni knew what I wanted, and always charged me top prices, cos he said he could get them graded himself, and make more money.
I have traded loose u grades with Toni, mostly for carded Rotj hoth troopers and c-3po's. I traded some tie pilots, bossk, stormtroopers, at at drivers. I knew Toni had lots of carded troopers and c-3po's and thought it was just handier for him to shift some loose u grades of popular characters and also offload some of his inventory of those 2 carded figures.I did joke with some good collecting friends that Toni must be making these himself, but really couldn't believe that cards could be reproduced (and still don't think they can) to the exact type of the 80's. It's only when JJ said about 25000 card backs being around, that I started to seriously wonder?...
Ed raised a good point about Toni only selling hoth troopers, c-3po, luke Bespin on eBay. I think he sold bossk Palitoys too. I've handled loads of his cards and if he's been 'at it' for all these years then it's been a master stroke. I personally do not think that all his Palitoys and Germans are 'Toni-Tooled'. Do I think some are? It's quite possible. I really don't know what to think anymore. I always had a good business relationship with him. I'm not out to drag his name through the mud. I've a lot of money in his stuff and this is quite worrying. I contacted Toni, and this was his reply:
From: "toni" <
[email protected]>
Date: 15 December 2013 16:24:51 GMT
To: "Robbie Mullan" <
[email protected]>
Subject: Re: Palitoy/ GM
Reply-To: "toni" <
[email protected]>
hi no i havent been sealing figures. As you know youve had lots of carded stuff off me with which you have been satisfied and most of it seems to have gone for grading with out any issues and for sale on ebay by you . thanks
--------------------------------------------------
From: "Robbie Mullan" <
[email protected]>
Sent: Saturday, December 14, 2013 2:23 PM
To: "Toni Emchowicz" <
[email protected]>
Subject: Palitoy/ GM
Toni
What is going on here?
Have you been sealing these yourself?
Please advise.
Robbie.