Rare Star Wars Action Figure Auctioned

A vintage 1978 R2-D2 figure with a factory error has surfaced at Heritage Auctions.

Updated on Oct. 4, 2026 in Collecting

Gouache-painted illustration of a vintage-style toy in a blister pack, evoking the curated world of rare collectibles. — Heritage Auctions has listed a rare 1978 Kenner R2-D2 action figure, drawing attention from collectors for a unique factory error on the packaging. AI Illustration. Upload story photo >

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Heritage Auctions has listed a rare 1978 Kenner Star Wars R2-D2 action figure for public sale. The item is currently attracting significant attention due to a unique manufacturing flaw.

Why it matters

The auction highlights the premium value collectors place on rare factory errors in vintage toy lines. As the only graded example of this specific mistake, the piece represents a notable rarity in toy history.

The R2-D2 action figure features a 12-Back A card format and an AFA 80 grade. It is the only known graded example to feature a factory error consisting of two blisters stacked on one another.

The players

Heritage Auctions

This organization is a major auction house specializing in collectibles, including vintage toys and memorabilia.

Kenner

This company was the original manufacturer of the Star Wars toy line that revolutionized the action figure market.

The details

The R2-D2 unit is housed on a 12-Back A card where the hang tab is not fully punched through. The factory error caused two layers of plastic to be secured over the figure instead of one.

1978 was the original production year for the Kenner action figure.

Culture Shift

This auction follows a growing trend of intense collector interest in factory-error vintage toys that were once considered production mistakes. The high valuation of such items reflects a shift where manufacturing defects now command higher prices than perfect standard retail versions.

Collectors looking to add this rare figure to their personal display will need to track the bidding process to manage their acquisition budgets effectively. The item serves as a reminder to check vintage collections for unique production anomalies that could hold significant resale value.

The takeaway

Collectors should carefully examine their vintage carded figures for subtle manufacturing errors that indicate production deviations. These unique mistakes often establish the highest tiers of market value for rare hobbyist items.