Hello everyone.

I'm re-kindling my passion for vintage Star Wars collecting, and boy have things changed!

I started collecting as a child in the 70's, my first figure was R2D2 on 12 back.
The bug had well and truly bitten me and I collected with relentless excitement right through until I grew out of toys I think around 84.
I don't remember the last figure I got, but I do remember I had them all up until just before Rancor Keeper came out.

The retro collecting started in the early 90's when I spotted some figs I'd never seen before (last 17) in a flea market.
I decided it would be cool to get the figs I never owned and stop there. No! The fire was re-ignited!
Blue snag, boxed playsets vehicles, and original carded figs soon followed.
I started trading on a small level with an add in the back of Model Mart, and going to all the major toy fairs.
Pre internet days! How different it was then. I remember my mint boxed US Death Star, complete with inner packaging etc, took over a year to track down from the states.
And buying things blind on trust! How very odd!
I got tired of things around 12 or so years ago, when in my opinion things seemed to be getting out of control with Lucas's licensing greed, and again in my opinion, seemed to be milking the collectors.

So, here we are now. My collection and left over stock all stored away in boxes, and with a love of travel, and record collecting, I started wondering what that old stuff might be worth now.
As I started having a look online and researching further and further, I felt a feeling I'd felt before. The bug had bitten me again!
But, crikey how things have changed. I'm loving the variant thing. In the 90's this wasn't really known apart from the Luke hair colours, Han heads etc.
It's strange because I'd always had a fascination with production variations that I'd spotted coming through my hands, but couldn't really find anyone else who was bothered with it, and in the most part prices weren't effected in any way by variants. When I think of some of the variants tri-fetts, Blue Sabre Snap Cape Luke's etc that went through my hands for a couple of quid, and the thinning down of my own collection, it seems a bit odd it wasn't really bothered with then.

As for Lili Ledy. Wow! Where's that all come from? Loving it though, and all the foreign variants. I remember getting an absolute mint on card Glasslite R2 for I think no more than about £20. People didn't really like it because of the matt finish dome. As for first shots etc, it seemed like there was only a handful of people outside of Japan that gave a monkey's about them.
I'm loving the Tri-Logo thing as well. In the 90's Tri's were generally seen as an inferior card. For me and others it was often a cheaper way of getting some carded figs you wanted, but couldn't really afford to get on a Kenner.

So, anyway I'm probably waffling on a bit.
I'm loving the Gunnery website. It's been my main source for info in the absolute head fry that is re-schooling myself and getting up to speed with modern identification etc.
I've been collecting again since about June and have already bought around 300 figures in my attempt to build up on the variants, and have already got myself some nice bits I'm really enjoying.
I'll be posting some pics in the near future of some of my favourite bits when I get some sort of order together. (nothing you wont have seen many times before) And I'm afraid I'll probably be needing some help with some identification on a few pieces. I'm sure you guys will be more than up to the job.

All the very best....

Karl....

Frank, Dean, Krille, and Karl... welcome to TIG

New user!!! I'm an old relic, born in the late 70's...a Star Wars lover since I watched the uk tv premier with my family on our tiny black and white tv...and a collecting fanatic since I got my very first figure (Christmas 86 I think!!)!!!

Welcome to all the new guys I haven't welcomed yet. Enjoy your selfs.

hi folks. noobie mfer is on board.

Dean, Frunk, yeah-sus, Karl, I'm your Father, and mfer!!


Enjoy your stay here!!!

cool, I already feel comfortable in here

Bigggg to all

Enjoy

Hi all, I have been following threads on this site for several months & decided it was time I joined this great community!

I was fortunate enough to grow up when this phenomenon took off & collected all but 4 of the original figures as they were released. Those Tri-logo cards did't illustrate all the figures, so there were some of the last 17 I never knew existed until a few years later!

I got back into collecting in 1994 in order to complete my collection & improve some of my 'played with' figures. I also bought a lot of the ships & playsets I didn't have as a kid. I then went into major paint/sculpt variants & more recently I have gotten into COO variants (What have I Done? ).

I have a few moc's that I have picked up along the way, but they don't currently form a focus.

I also have a very understanding wife.

Welcome to the family, CP.

Hi all

New to the Gunnery, thanks for having me.

I have been collecting Vintage Star Wars figures for 30 years and need all sorts of help with a heap of variants, strange figures and of course sourcing more variants !!!

I will upload some pics soon and hopefully the experts here can help me out.

Cheers

Chopper

Nice warm welcome .... loves it !!!

Chris_J wrote:

Welcome to the family, CP.

Cheers Chris. Looks like a good place to be!

Cantina Patron and Chopper: a big welcome here, have fun!!!

BIG welcome to TIG new guys!

Name: Dave
Nickname: Shakey
Age: 39
Single/Married: Married
Residence: Nottinghamshire / England
Occupation: Vintage toys & collectibles dealer? I think (but Not Star Wars)
Kids: 4
Pets: 1 Dog & 4 Kids
Collecting Focus: I have no focus what-so-ever
Character Focus: See above

Collecting interest: I like down ‘n’ dirty, I like out the packet, touchy, feely things. I’m not talking heavy play wear but loved the way it was intended.


Hey everyone.

I've been collecting Star Wars for 30 years, but 6-7 years ago (after my business went bang) I had to sell my entire vintage collection to help buy the kids their Christmas presents. It was a real wrench to let them go, but I'd do anything for my boys and girls. To top that off, I've been ill for a few years with Sleep apnea and unable to work, not so much physically unable to work, but damn it's hard to convince a new employer that I'm ok to work with the condition, but anyway it seems to be getting under control and over the last couple of years I decided to work for myself again and do so from home as much as i can.


Now stop crying everyone......

Because this year my Wife and the kids have bought me an almost entire vintage collection plus a couple of Lili Ledy and a Blue Snaggletooth.

So with a renewed vigour for collecting vintage Star Wars (or anything Star Wars related)I thought I'd join this forum.

And just finally, I'd like to wish you all a Merry Christmas.

Cheers
Shakey

Welcome to TIG and back to collecting Dave.

Welcome to TIG Dave, enjoy and have fun.

Great to hear that you are happily collecting again!!!

Welcome to the nuthouse, Dave

Welcome Dave.

Hi guys,
just thought i would drop a message to say hello - joined a few days ago but just got a chance to say hi.

A bit about me : i collect anything and everything vintage star wars and have done for the past 10 years. I have a moderately sized collection and at the moment i like searching for store displays (not that a have the space to display them well)

I try to visit collectors fairs when i can and am always looking for new ones to go to

Bye for now

Hi Mark

to TIG . I like to see your collection of store displays . As i have been a bit attracted to that kind of stuff latley

And i know we all want to see the rest of your collection

Thank you all for the welcome.

And welcome Mark, looking forward to seeing you collection.