I have a passion for collecting vintage Star Wars merchandise from the late 70's. Action figures, comics, trading cards etc - anything related to the first Star Wars movie. But why only until 1980? It's not that I don't love The Empire Strikes Back and beyond (I really do), but there is something about that first wave of Star Wars mania that really grips me, back when it was all fresh and exciting...

Saturday, May 22, 2010

Kenner Action Figure Case



This 'Mini-Action Figure Collector's Case' was put out by Kenner in 1979 and was a much more effective carrying case than the infamous Darth Vader version released later. It remained a fixture of the line right up until 1983, with the artwork and logo changing to reflect the later films. Back when the Kenner line consisted of only 20 figures (plus Boba Fett who was put out the same year), the first carrying case had enough space for both the '78 and '79 line of figures plus a few extra stormtroopers or tusken raiders.

I picked this one up for quite a nice price on Ebay, although it's not in the best condition. As most of these things have spent the last two decades in people's basements and garages, the paper illustration behind the clear plastic has a tendency to warp and crease over time. Also a few of the characters' stickers are missing from the trays, but these things are pretty hard to pick up in mint condition.

2 comments:

Anonymous said...

I have one of these, near mint, which I got in 1983(?) but it is the Star Wars artwork.

I can't recall ever having stickers, but I though I would mention that the backs of the trays have prongs that should fit into the holes in the feet of the Star Wars figures so one could display them. Which I did each May 4 from about 1980/81 onwards.

The white handles are also silly. I quikly swapped mine with a black one, which as I recall came from a wine cask that was popular in Australia c1983.

(Here from Mefi FWIW: http://www.metafilter.com/96146/What-a-piece-of-junk)

Anonymous said...

I own one like this, identicsl but minre hss the stickers, I Think it has 2 more booklets also
i also possess the mini action figures that fill this case and all the weapons and accessories that came with each mini figurine and the topper, I Also have the millenium falcon ship that lights up and makes noises /with the original box..
a complete set, next to new easily
and i am looking to sell it to someone but not for the $125 offer I JUST HAD...LOL
MLVELORIA@yahoo.com