Rachfal Enterprises has announced the sale of two examples of a coveted and iconic 1979 Kenner “Star Wars” action figure prototype: Rocket-Firing Boba Fett – which was part of a special mail-a-way promotion that was scrapped due to child safety concerns. Featuring the L-slot latching configuration, the rarest of the two up for sale measures 3 34″ in length and has impeccable provenance dating back directly to the former Kenner employee who painted it.
The second specimen depicts what the final toy would have looked like if it had been released. Both figures have been encased and graded for preservation and authenticity by the Action Figure Authority (AFA).
“By now, most people know the Rocket Firing Boba Fett action figure was never released,” said collectable dealer Brian Rachfal. “So, when someone calls claiming to have had one as a child, you either think they had a Kenner connection – as Kenner employees were known to take samples home – or it is a false memory. Think the Mandela Effect, or as I like to call it, Rocket Fett Syndrome. Most people think they hit pay dirt at some garage sale when they find a similar toy, and it winds up being only a replica.”
“Only once in my 30-year career was this not the case. Frankly, that J-slot Rocket Fett – the one we’re currently offering – was a headscratcher, having originated in either California or Oklahoma – far from Kenner’s home in Cincinnati, Ohio. But that Boba Fett prototype proved genuine in the end. After careful scrutiny, there is no doubt. That was an amazing moment.”
It is noteworthy that this individual Rocket Fett entered the hobby community about two decades ago and was once part of the Justin Kern collection known as the “Nine Holy Grails in a Row” and was also depicted in a 2013 homage image called “Rocket Fett Phases.” It has also been featured in the John Kellerman resource “Star Wars Vintage Action Figures” and is on the Star Wars Collectors Archive (SWCA).
The figure itself appears to be a typical blue-grey First Shot featuring the L-slot latching configuration and, as expected, lacks all copyright and country of origin stamps on the back of the legs. It is paired with a red 4-sided missile which displays the expected ejector-pin marks and other traits associated with genuine examples.
Provenance extends back to a known ex-Kenner employee who worked at Kenner during the late 1970s and early 1980s. It is believed up to 5 or 6 similar L-slots were hand-painted, of which four examples have been recovered: two featuring the standard production paint scheme; two featuring an alternate paint scheme. Unlike the production paint scheme examples, both alternate examples were uniquely painted. So this Rocket Firing Boba Fett “is” one-of-a-kind!
You can view the collectables and read more details about their provenance by visiting www.rachfalenterprises.com.
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