AN ultra-rare Star Wars action figure of Ben Kenobi — one of just three known to exist — could fetch £30,000 at auction.
The 3.75in tall plastic Obi-Wan toy was made by Kenner in 1978 after the success of the first Star Wars film, now renamed Episode IV — A New Hope.
This pre-production engineering model has a “double telescope” lightsaber — a two-piece sword which emerges from its right arm.
The weapon’s design was later scrapped for a one-piece version.
It is also yellow, instead of the production model’s blue.
A Kenner employee salvaged the model from a scrap heap.
The figure, which has K and 27 written on its feet, is for sale at Vectis Auctions, in Stockton-on-Tees, on January 28.
Specialist Peter Davis said: “This is a pre-production engineering pilot, which gives it an extreme level of rarity as we know of only three of them in existence.
“They should have a blue lightsaber but because they were messing around to see if the production process would work they rustled up a yellow lightsaber.
“The original figures came with a double telescoping lightsaber but they quickly realised this was a faff so they went with one piece of plastic.
“The figure first belonged to a Kenner employee who sold it when they became valuable and a Scottish reindeer farmer who also happened to be a collector bought it.
“After much persuasion, they sold it to the vendor, a collector from southern England, about three years ago.”
