The worlds smallest bounty hunter is now the worlds most valuable vintage toy. A 3.75-inch tall Boba Fett sold for $525,000 duringHeritage Auctions first Star Wars Signature Auction, held May 31. Its one of only two surviving handpainted, missile-firing action figures promised to kids but ultimately pulled from the Kenner production line in the 1970s. Its price more than doubled the record for the most expensive Star Warsaction figure sold at auction, held by a rocket-firing Boba Fett that realized $236,000 in June 2022. This miniature Mandalorian also bested a Barbie to become the most valuable vintage toy sold at auction. In 2010, a one-of-a-kind, one-carat-diamond-wearing Barbie sold for $302,000. The rocket-firing Boba Fett action figure long ago became such a mythic icon that people worldwide know about it even if they dont collect anything at all, stated Heritage Auctions Executive Vice President Joe Maddalena. We knew this one had a chance to enter the record books, and it was thrilling to see it become the most valuable toy in the world. The Star Wars Signature Auction realized $1,661,916, thanks to more than 1,500 bidders worldwide. The auctions toptwolots were Boba Fetts. The other wasa highly graded, still-sealed action figure released by Kenner in 1979 on whats referred to as a 21 Back BStar WarsCard, which realized $84,375. Theres only one other Boba Fett with this AFA 95 grade. The action figure was initially intended as a giveaway, FREE BOBA FETT, encouraged the in-store displays, the action-figure packaging and TV ads in 1979, shortly after the armored (and, then, animated) figure debuted as Darth Vaders right-hand man in the Star Wars Holiday Special. All a kid, or their parents, had to do was provide proof theyd purchased four other Star Wars action figures. In return, within six to eight weeks, they would receive Kenners 21st Star Warsaction figure with the rocket firing back pack. Even better, said the promos, Boba Fett not available in any store. Except, quite famously, that rocket-loaded Boba Fett never arrived in the mail, or anywhere else, after reports surfaced in early 1979 that competitor Mattels Battlestar Galacticaplastic-missile-firing toys had become choking hazards. When he finally did arrive in a plain white box, the rocket had been glued into place, and there was a Note to Consumers explaining why the change had been made, stating, The launcher has been removed from the product for safety reasons. Some Kenner employees spared the rocket-firing Boba Fetts destined for the Sarlacc pit. Thats how the few surviving prototypes became the worlds most sought-after Star Warstoy, what Entertainment Weeklys Andrew Breznican once called the fulfillment of a broken promise. Projectiles were always touchy subjects, said former Kenner engineer Jacob Miles III, an original member of the companys Star Warsteam tasked with keeping that rocket safely in Boba Fetts backpack. But when Battlestar Galacticahad their issues, we immediately just shut it down and destroyed everything. We were concerned about disappointing kids because we had shown that thing (the rocket) taking off. But we had a much bigger concern if we shipped it. This Boba Fett has the L-shaped latch in the back, of which there are some 70 known examples of the surviving 100 (or so) prototypes. As longtime Star Wars expert and dealer Brian Rachfal notes in his letter of provenance, Its uncertain exactly how many Rocket Firing Boba Fetts were created, or survived 45 years later. But this is absolutely among the rarest. One of only two examples known, this handpainted figure is still unique in its class, writes Rachfal, as its the only one with its head and appendages painted gray. This AFA-graded, CIB-authenticated figure has been so thoroughly examined that hobby historians can pinpoint where it was made (Kenners 10th floor at the Kroger building in Cincinnati, Ohio), how it got out (it was salvaged from a box of discarded toys deposited there for employees to take home) and where it eventually landed (with Justin Kerns, who once had nine unique survivors from the discarded lot). It now travels to its new owner, as will numerous other significant pieces of Star Warsoffered in this landmark event, includingthe lightsaber built by Anakin Skywalker that Obi-Wan Kenobi handed over to Lukebefore it was thought lost (along with Lukes right hand) during Vader and sons duel on Bespin in TheEmpire Strikes Back. The so-called Skywalker Lightsaber, which Maz Kanata kept until handing it over to Rey in The Force Awakens, realized $62,500. Not far behind was one of the most prized pieces in this auction,a third draft (and a very different version) of George Lucas screenplay for the first installment in his space opera, back when it was still known as The Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Starkiller. The script, which realized $57,500, has everything a Star Warsfan could want, the original triangular logo design by Ralph McQuarrie, provenance (it hails from the collection of Bunny Alsup, the assistant to Star Wars producer Gary Kurtz) and the signatures of, among others, Lucas, Mark Hamill, Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Peter Mayhew and others. This auction also featured another Mandalorian item,the helmet Pedro Pascal wore in Season two of The Mandalorianand during his appearance on The Book of Boba Fett, which realized $40,000. Anda Lucasfilm-sanctioned Darth Vader helmet, armor and chest box made for early 1980s promotional tours, sold for $37,500. For additional information, visit www.HA.com.