Hakes – The Jeff Jacob Collection
Part 1 Online January 6, 2025
Closes January 22, 2025
hakes.com 866-404-9800

YORK, PENN. — Colorado custom homebuilder Jeff Jacob’s multimillion-dollar collection of Star Wars figures, GI Joes and rarities from other popular toy lines makes its auction debut on January 22 at Hake’s. The initial offering of 435 lots from Jacob’s collection will introduce a multi-part series of online sales slated for 2025. Bidding on part one will open on January 6, the same day the fully illustrated catalog publishes on Hake’s website. All lots will close on January 22.

Acknowledged as one of the world’s largest and finest collections of its type, Jacob’s pop-culture trove includes more than 3,000 pieces that traverse the action-figure universe, starting with 1970s Star Wars characters and progressing into the 1980s with GI Joes, Transformers, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Masters of the Universe and other productions. Nearly all figures, playsets, vehicles and other items in the collection are AFA-graded. Most pieces are high grade, and some are the highest-graded specimens of their type, per the AFA Population Report. In this opening sale of the series, 47 pieces are identified as being in the single highest grade known, with none graded higher.

Based on social-media chatter and inquiries from potential bidders, a likely contender for top lot is a Star Wars (1978) Double-Telescoping Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi 12 Back-A action figure, AFA-graded 85 NM+, with a SKU on the footer. Only two carded Double-Telescoping specimens of this figure are known to exist in such a high grade, and of those two, the one offered by Hake’s will make history as the first to appear at auction. To date, Hake’s has sold three Double-Telescoping Ben Kenobi figures, although of different grades. The current record stands at $125,000, and that record may be broken by Jeff Jacob’s example, which has a starting bid of $50,000.

A Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1982) 4-LOM 48 Back-A action figure on its blister card, AFA-graded 60 Y-EX, took Jacob 20 years to acquire. The rarest production figure of all Kenner’s Star Wars toylines, it is notable for being on a 48 Back-A with no pre-figure offer sticker, as opposed to the more-typical type on a 48 Back-C card with an Admiral Ackbar offer. Only four examples of the 48 Back-A type have been graded by AFA, and this one is the first ever to come to Hake’s ($20/35,000).

There’s excitement over a boxed Star Wars (1978) Cantina Adventure Set. The set contains bagged action figures of a very hard-to-find blue-version Snaggletooth, Greedo, Hammerhead and Walrus Man, as well as mailer boxes for the figures, a sealed bag of pegs, a cardboard backdrop, cardboard inserts, in-package catalogs and assembly instructions. The auction example is one of only five known with the AFA grade 85 NM+, according to the AFA Population Report, and no others have been documented in a higher grade ($10/20,000).

Rarity is front and center yet again with a Stars Wars (1978) Boba Fett action figure from Kenner’s 12-inch series. It is one of only four examples graded AFA 85 NM+, according to the AFA Population Report, with no others known in a higher grade. Of all 12-inch figures, Boba Fett is the most highly valued ($10/20,000).

Other than a few collections in Mexico, few can rival Jacob’s assortment of Mexican-made Lili Ledy Star Wars figures on cards with Spanish-language text. Jacob managed to acquire some exceptionally rare productions. One of them is a Star Wars: El Regreso Del Jedi/Return of the Jedi (1983) 3.75-inch Luke Skywalker action figure dressed in Bepsin fatigues on a 30 Back and AFA-graded 80 NM ($10/20,000).

Fans of shape-shifting Transformers are sure to be laser-focused on a mint/boxed/sealed Hasbro Transformers (1984) Series 1 Megatron (Decepticon Leader), AFA-graded 80 NM. It is among the most desirable Series 1 Transformers toys, with only two examples known in an AFA 80 grade according to the current AFA Population Report ($10/20,000).

From the GI Joe portion of Jeff Jacob’s collection, a top prize is the rare Hasbro G.I. Joe (1984) Hovercraft (Killer W.H.A.L.E.) Series 3 vehicle, AFA-graded 75 Ex+/NM. The profusely graphic box contains a G.I. Joe figure, a full complement of accessories, an instruction sheet and much more. One of only 10 sealed examples graded by AFA, it carries a $5/10,000 estimate.

Also not to be missed is the first offering from Jacob’s specialty selection of Star Wars proof cards, i.e., production samples printed prior to the finalization of card designs to back action figures. Very few proof cards have survived. Those created for the Star Wars: Revenge of the Jedi title are the most popular with collectors. A Boba Fett proof card produced by Kenner prior to the film’s name change to Star Wars: Return of the Jedi, graded AFA 85 NM+, represents one of 50 different characters appearing on the initial Revenge Of The Jedi proof cards ($5/10,000).

For information 866-404-9800 (toll-free), 717-434-1600 or www.hakes.com.

Double Telescoping Saber Highest Graded AFA 85
Factory Sealed AFA 80
Straight Arm AFA 80
We’re always accepting quality consignments
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