When were Palitoy 12 backs first released?

[Dark Sith Lord]

That's a good call with mentioning Jim, I feel it's going to come from someone who's a little older than us to shed some light.

I definitely remember seeing the figures first when an older child who lived close by had them. That image of seeing them really stuck in my memory and it was definitely sunny out as I saw them on his drive way. I had seen the film (which I'm sure I saw early 78 but maybe it could have been very late 77), and as soon as I knew that figures were being sold that's all I wanted! As I said my Birthday is late April, so It felt like an age before I could get some but it's difficult to know for sure if it was around April time or if I had to wait until Christmas and got them with my Death Star. Maybe someone who knows Jim can drop him aline to see?

Ian

http://www.museumofchildhood.org.uk/collections/british-toy-making-project/toy-manufacturers/palitoy

January 1978 to tie in with the release of the film according to this source. That was also the year I took my dad on a tour
of midland toy shops looking for a jawa, which would have been in the easter or summer holidays that year.

cheers Jason

It's incorrect as they are using generic information.
They've had copies of Celebration Europe exhibit text since 2008.

The first product was a board game for January 1978, which was rushed to have something at the film debut. The main launch was mid March 1978, with the first 12 figures (at a wholesale cost of 60p each, in cases of 48), 3 vehicles, Luke/ Leia 12", masks, kites, Play Doh, Dip Dots and poster sets. A £235,000 advertising campaign at Easter, Palitoy's largest ever for a product launch, was spent across retail and comics.
The first 3 die cast followed in May with a few more products, including the Death Star play set, with the first TV commercial before the year was out.

Hope that helps.
Dave.

Great post! Very interesting to know! Thanks Dave

 

[Fishtalk]

My memories more or less tally with what others have posted. On February 16th 1978 we moved house from Yorkshire to Staffordshire, I was terrified because I had to switch schools, I was almost 10.
On my first day at new school I was bombarded with questions about Star Wars, which I had never heard of. Did I collect the figures? The bubblegum cards? My interest was piqued and about 2 weeks later my parents took me to see it, the rest is history.
Anyway the day after seeing it I bought my first figure, R2-D2. So figures were in the shops early to mid March.
And all were easily available except Jawa, Sandpeople and DSC, I couldn't find them in shops until September.

 

[Palifan]

Thanks for helping to confirm the dates as well as a few figures being late.

The jury's still slightly out on those last 3 figures being shipped late, especially with the sand People card back being so available on an A back, but it's also the way I remember it (well the Jawa for sure), and as you're not the only person on here who remembers it that way it's starting to look like it may have happened.

looking forward to hearing any other thoughts and also please check your sabre tips against the card back (A or B), if you have any of the 3 MOC palitoy 12 backs.

Ian