Defying stock market slump, pop culture rarities drive Hake’s auction to strong $2.4M finish
Featured: Encased Star Wars 1978 Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi double-telescoping lightsaber action figure $79,178; NZ Mint Mickey Mouse coin $58,410; Don’t Tread On Me Flag, $28,566YORK, Pa. – Financial markets may be taking a breather, but there’s never a time out for those who pursue investment-grade vintage collectibles. Hake’s, the auction house that lit the fire for America’s pop culture obsession 55 years ago, rang up yet another high-flying auction total on November 15-16, achieving excellent prices across many specialty categories and closing the books at $2.4 million.Encased Star Wars (1978) 3.75in Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi 12 Back-A double-telescoping lightsaber action figure with SKU on footer denoted earlier production, AFA 75 Ex+/NM. Extremely rare and only the third carded specimen of its type ever to be offered by Hake’s. Sold for $79,178The force remained with Star Wars collectibles, which were led by an extremely rare encased Star Wars (1978) 3.75-inch Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi 12 Back-A double-telescoping lightsaber action figure. It was only the third carded specimen of its type ever to pass through the doors at Hake’s. A SKU on the card’s footer identified it as an earlier production, and with an AFA grade of 75 Ex+/NM to excite collectors, it flew to greater heights, finally stopping at $79,178. A Star Wars: Return of the Jedi (1984) Princess Leia 3.75-inch sample figure inspired widespread competition. Dressed in a solid pink poncho, as opposed to the later camouflage poncho, the figure was affixed to an Imperial Stormtrooper/Snowtrooper blister card because cards for the pre-production Leia figure had not yet been produced. With a notarized CIB Letter of Authenticity, and AFA-graded 60 Y-EX, the prized sample figure reached $42,834 against a pre-sale estimate of $20,000-$35,000.Only days before celebrating his 94th birthday, Mickey Mouse stepped into the spotlight along with Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II on