Hakes debut sale of Star Wars and other action figures and prototypes from the celebrated Jeff Jacob collection crushed all expectations on Jan. 22 as it soared to a $1.45 million finish. The initial offering of 435 lots from Jacobs 33-year collection launched a multi-part series of online sales scheduled for 2025 and, in so doing, achieved a significant milestone. It marked the first time an auction devoted exclusively to action figures broke the million-dollar mark. When we landed Jeffs collection, we knew we definitely had something special, but we also sensed it could end up being legendary. Early on, there was so much excitement about the auction that we actually went live with the catalog a week earlier than planned. From the get-go, bidders showed up and bid early and often. We had hopes of cracking one million but went well beyond that. And as weve seen so many times before, it was the collectors who had the final say about market value. Scores of new world auction records were set, reported a jubilant Alex Winter, president of Hakes Auctions. Nearly all figures, playsets, vehicles and other items in the collection were AFA-graded and served as a shining testament to Jacobs decades-long mission to upgrade his holdings to the maximum possible level. Most pieces were high grade, and some were the absolute highest-graded specimens of their type, per the AFA Population Report. In this first session, 47 pieces were identified as being in the single highest grade known, with none graded higher. As predicted, the auctions top-selling lot was a Star Wars (1978) Double-Telescoping Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi 12 Back-A action figure, AFA-graded 85 NM+, with a SKU on its footer. Only two carded Double-Telescoping examples of this figure are known to exist in such a high grade, and of those two, the one offered by Hakes was the first to appear at auction. Entered with no specified estimate and requiring an opening bid of $50,000, the figure sold for $105,182, a world auction record for any Double-Telescoping Ben Kenobi. Another top prize was a Star Wars (1978) Artoo-Detoo (R2-D2) 12 Back-A Kenner action figure, AFA-graded 85 NM+. Distinctive for its dark-blue dome and SKU on the cards footer, this figure is one of only six examples known in its grade, with no other graded higher in the current AFA Population Report. It sold for $38,940 against an estimate of $5,000-$10,000, a world auction record for any R2-D2 figure. There were great expectations for a Star Wars: The Power Of The Force (1984) complete base set of 62 pressed aluminum coins, but how much it might sell for was subject to speculation, since its auction appearance was quite possibly the first time a complete collection of its type had ever been publicly offered as a whole. Manufactured by Kenner and initially featured in a Star Wars mail-away offer, the coins were later issued in a carded format with the toy companys Power Of The Force action figures. Each of the 1.5-inch coins was graded AFA 85 NM+ and originally had been obtained from a former Kenner employee. Against an estimate of $20,000-$35,000, the set rang the register at $42,536, a world auction record for a graded coin set of its type. Jeff Jacobs pop-culture trove includes more than 3,000 pieces that span the action-figure universe. With 1970s Star Wars characters solidly at its base, the collection also incorporates the best of several other toy lines, including GI Joes, Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Masters of the Universe, and others. Among the Joes was a Hasbro GI Joe (1982) Cobra Missile Command Headquarters Series 1 playset with three 3.75-inch Straight-Arm action figures on red blister cards with peach file cards on the reverse. A Sears exclusive, this set was AFA-graded 75+ Q-Ex+/NM, making it the highest-graded and only-known example, according to the current AFA Population Report. Against an estimate of $5,000-$10,000, it realized $14,673, a world-auction record for a set of its type in its grade. Nothing could have prepared us for the closing night, which was nothing short of epic. Once the final bids were in and the dust had settled, we realized how many world record prices had been set across all toy lines, especially Star Wars. This sale was just the beginning, as we still have thousands of fantastic items waiting in the wings. This is going to be the Year of Jeff Jacob. Well be announcing a May auction date for Part II of his collection very soon, finished Winter, after the auction wrapped. Please note that all of the items in the captioned photos sold for world-record prices, as detailed, and all prices quoted are inclusive of an 18-percent buyers premium. For further information, call 1-866-404-9800 (toll-free) or 717-434-1600 or email hakes@hakes.com. All images courtesy of Hakes Auctions.