Here are the 3 earliest Kenner Star Wars card backs. The A B and C. on a US Kenner 12 back . All three shown here are Made in Hong Kong, there are several Lukes and Leia’s that were made in Taiwan, and are much harder to find.
The first Star Wars figures were released on what is called now A SW12 A , all the fronts were the same for all three, but there are differences between the three versions on the back .
The 12 A has a short stubby saber shown, Being the figures originally were to have a double telescoping saber. the first card a 12 A shown below
12 back Kenner Star Wars A cardback
The 12 B card has an extended Saber , and the same text box below the saber. 12B below.
12 back B card- longer saber
The 12 C has the same saber, but the paragraph of text has been shortened. 12 C below
Kenner Star wars 12 Back C card.
Here is a close up detail between the 3 .
12 back B card detail – note longer saber. 12C card back – the text is now shortened in paragraph between sabers
Reproduction SW card back below – this is a fake reproduced card
Reproduction card on left.
12ABC
12 back Kenner Star Wars A cardback 12 back B card- longer saber Kenner Star wars 12 Back C card.
Kenner released several Playsets during the early era of Star Wars toys. These were often overlooked by vintage era Star Wars collector collectors, and until recent could have been picked up for fairly reasonable prices. Here are the unique playlets of the Kenner Star Wars universe 1978-1979 era.
The most valuable of the Playsets is The Cantina Adventure set- with the rare Blue Snaggletooth.
A Highly sought after and made of just cardboard- the set was not real exciting- but has one of the rarest of the Star Wars figures The Blue Snaggletooth The playset was simple a cardboard backer and figure display base with white pegs to hold figures in place.
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The Largest of the Playsets was the Death Star- at near 3′ tall is was quite a large set. The Death Star has a lot of play features from the Laser Turret on top, and the swing across the Death Star Trench, Trash monster in the Trash compactor. and an elevator to each floor. The part which went missing constantly was the rope for the death star trench. still a hard piece to find in a vintage set. The set offer a lot f play activity for kids, and is a nice display set for figures today.
NO DROIDS ALOWED “We don’t allow there types in here” The Creature Cantina may have kept droids out but was the party spot of Mos Eisley. just a cardboard back and a door, with a few figure stand swivels.
The Land of the Jawa’s Playset offered another cardboard back, with an elevator, and escape pod. It is a nice display piece, but offers little in play ability. The elevator lifts up and down , and the Escape pod pend so you can put the droids in .
The Display Stand , same as a mail in premium, but war releases in a box version, which is extremely rare. The stand, not actually a playset, was a early Star Wars mail away collectible which of recent has seen large increases in value.
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The Droid Factory included the 3 legged R2D2 figure. It came with numerous bodies wheels and leg to create unique robots, comelier to Micronauts. The set was also released in a ESB box.
The 3 legged R2 is hard to find in mint condition, the legs which came with this set has fragile tabs which break easily.
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The PlayDoh action set playset. was one of the first Star Wars toys designed for younger Star Wars fans. It was not a playset for the Kenner action figure line, rather a mold your own figure set.
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Internationally: Palitoy UK release its own version of the Death Star, A Cardboard playset totally different than the US version, Also release in Europe was the Droid Factory, which had variations t the Stickers of the droids, and the R2 figure.
