STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1981) - TALKING YODA PROTOTYPE DOLL AFA 80 NM.
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Item Description
AFA graded and encapsulated 10" tall prototype of Kenner's plush Taking Yoda doll, which was ultimately not produced. The Talking Yoda doll is among the most coveted unproduced toy prototypes from the vintage Kenner Star Wars line, originating as a toy concept in 1980 and making it as far as sales samples and finished packaging, before being canceled just prior to release. Early versions of the talking Yoda doll are known to exist w/slightly different outfits and alternate rotocast heads w/open mouths (as well as w/rooted hair). Even an electroform mold for the conceptual talking Yoda head has been discovered, but all of these items vary significantly from the example offered here. Prototype features rubber hands, feet, gimer stick and head w/cloth outfit. Side of doll has small riveted hole for pull string, but this is missing, as is the voice box that would produce random sounds among the eight phrases sampled directly from Yoda's lines in The Empire Strikes Back - "You Seek Yoda; Beware The Dark Side; A Jedi Uses The Force; Feel The Force; Size Matters Not; So Certain Are You; Try Not, Do" and "Use The Force." Cloth-covered underside has handwritten note in ink reading "Return To C Veness," referring to Kenner toy designer Cathy Veness. Despite missing voice box, this is still one of the most complete of the known examples, and presents very nicely within custom AFA case. Prototype shows scattered paint wear/rubs to gimer stick, hands and head, w/most of head wear being to back of head. Small spot of staining on back of cloth robe. Still Fine/VF overall and rare, w/less than a dozen examples of Talking Yoda prototypes known to exist. Comes with notarized Collectible Investment Brokerage (CIB) LOA.
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