An incredibly rare Star Wars action toy is tipped to sell for a world record price of £300,000. The plastic figure of a rocket-firing bounty hunter Boba Fett was produced as a prototype by manufacturer Kenner in 1979.
The 3.75ins figure was one of about 100 made for safety testing before they could be sold to the public. The tests revolved around the firing mechanism of a red plastic missile from the backpack of Boba Fett.
As a result of the testing, it was decided that only 'non-firing' figures with sealed missiles should be mass-produced for the public as the original design was found to be a potential choking hazard for children. Only around 25 prototypes exist today.
The unpainted figure was made in Hong Kong ahead of the release of the 1980 movie The Empire Strikes Back, in which Boba Fett appears for the first time. Since then his character has taken on a cult status, mainly due to its cool-looking outfit and jet-powered backpack that enabled him to fly.
This toy is being sold by a private collector with Hake's Auctions, of Pennsylvania, US. The current world record for a Star Wars figure is £188,000 ($236,000), which was achieved with the same auctioneers just last month.
They believe this example, which is of a 'higher grade', could make over £100,000 more, with the high estimate at £300,000. Alex Winter, of Hake's Auctions, said: "Rocket-firing Boba Fett prototype action figures have seen an upward trajectory in both demand and value in our recent auctions.
"This one could break the record as it is a higher grade."
Explaining the rarity of the prototype Boba Fett figures, he added: "The toy was pulled from the production line after being deemed a possible safety hazard for children, thus making the Boba Fett figure extremely rare and coveted in the collecting world. They were meant to all be destroyed but some employees took them home.
"Possibly around 100 made it out of the factory and only a handful have ever come to the market."
The timed sale ends on July 27.
