Action Figure Name: Darth Vader
Darth Vader
Collector's Notes for a vintage Star Wars Darth Vader Action Figure:
Darth Vader is very easy to find, because the same figure was produced throughout all 3 movies, where most of the others changed. Watch areas like his chest control unit for paint damage. And like all figures with vinyl capes, take a close look at the arm holes for stretching or tears. Stretching can sometimes be repaired with a very hot water bath (but be careful not to go to far and shrink it too much). Tears, which may not be obvious in photos, can usually be identified by poor fitting capes - if it's not hugging the shoulders - odds are there is something wrong with the arm holes.
Some people like the cape collar up, some prefer to fold it down - either way is good and doesn't impact value. Though if you get one with no crease - no sense in folding it down to make one now!
Just like Ben and Farmboy Luke, the EARLIEST Vader's came with a double-telescoping lightsaber - which is nearly impossible to find and heavily reproduced. Early single-telescoping sabers were usually stamped with letters on the hilt (the little tab that sticks out of the arm), as such demand a higher value than non-lettered sabers.
Some people like the cape collar up, some prefer to fold it down - either way is good and doesn't impact value. Though if you get one with no crease - no sense in folding it down to make one now!
Just like Ben and Farmboy Luke, the EARLIEST Vader's came with a double-telescoping lightsaber - which is nearly impossible to find and heavily reproduced. Early single-telescoping sabers were usually stamped with letters on the hilt (the little tab that sticks out of the arm), as such demand a higher value than non-lettered sabers.
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Current Darth Vader Action Figures for sale on eBay
Click an item below to view on eBay, or click the the "See More" button to see/refine our search criteria. We base our search keywords for this item very specifically to help minimize unwanted items - but listings are created by humans, and sometimes they add information that isn't quite right! This information is intended to help you get a sense of current pricing for this figure, or make a purchase if you find something you like! Galactic Collector makes no warranty of items you purchase through eBay.We are an eBay affiliate and may earn a small commission on items you purchase when using these links.
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Current pricing on the Darth Vader Action Figure
How much is a vintage Star Wars Darth Vader Action Figure worth?Currency is set to:
The below ranks are from high to low for loose complete figures. The highest priced figure would be ranked #1, etc.
The Darth Vader action figure is a middle value figure (middle third). Rank: 37/101
This figure has a very high number of sales (highest 10% - many available). Rank: 8/101
This figure gets a high number of bids at auction (top third - desirable). Rank: 24/101
Jump to Price Chart
A Loose Incomplete Darth Vader is worth on average $10.96 as of 4/15/2024. In poor condition, it is closer to $3.21, while excellent condtion examples are closer to $20.15. (click here see the sold listings)
A Loose Complete Darth Vader is worth on average $39.70 as of 4/15/2024. In poor condition, it is closer to $24.66, while excellent condtion examples are closer to $57.91. (click here see the sold listings)
A Carded Darth Vader is worth on average $424.61 as of 4/15/2024. In poor condition, it is closer to $185.77, while excellent condtion examples are closer to $813.45. (click here see the sold listings)
A Graded Darth Vader is worth on average $193.41 as of 4/15/2024. In poor condition, it is closer to $116.40, while excellent condtion examples are closer to $296.44. (click here see the sold listings)
A On Card Graded Darth Vader is worth on average $1,111.29 as of 4/15/2024. In poor condition, it is closer to $468.43, while excellent condtion examples are closer to $2,006.63. (click here see the sold listings)
A Mail Away/Sealed Bag Darth Vader is worth on average $182.00 as of 4/15/2024. In poor condition, it is closer to $153.00, while excellent condtion examples are closer to $238.25. (click here see the sold listings)
A Unicorn Darth Vader is worth on average $2,034.90 as of 4/15/2024. There are not a lot of these that go for sale. (click here see the sold listings)
These prices are based on sales data for the last 12 months. The chart below will also show you the lowest and highest values this Darth Vader sold for. Currency is set to:
| Low Price | Avg Price | High Price | Avg # Bids | Total Sales |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loose Incomplete | ||||
| (click here see the sold listings) | ||||
| 0.99 | 10.96 | 40.59 | 4 | 292 |
| Loose Complete | ||||
| (click here see the sold listings) | ||||
| 12.50 | 39.70 | 90.55 | 14 | 245 |
| Carded | ||||
| (click here see the sold listings) | ||||
| 80.00 | 424.61 | 2,622.00 | 23 | 72 |
| Graded | ||||
| (click here see the sold listings) | ||||
| 76.00 | 193.41 | 512.00 | 19 | 80 |
| On Card Graded | ||||
| (click here see the sold listings) | ||||
| 310.00 | 1,111.29 | 2,550.00 | 25 | 21 |
| Mail Away/Sealed Bag | ||||
| (click here see the sold listings) | ||||
| 150.00 | 182.00 | 264.00 | 14 | 8 |
| Unicorn | ||||
| (click here see the sold listings) | ||||
| 869.79 | 2,034.90 | 3,200.00 | 14 | 2 |
Last updated 4/15/2024
Unicorns are rare variations.
Pricing data is based on recently completed online auctions. The data is currated to ensure quality, so there were likely more actual auctions for this figure - we do our best to exclude: figures that are in rough shape, figures that have reproduction accessories, figures that have an incorrect accessory, auctions by sellers known to sell reproduction items, as well as other criteria.
Accessories
Darth Vader has the following accessories (click item for details):
Lightsaber - Telescoping - Red
Vinyl Cape - BlackCardbacks
If you collect carded figures, the general trend is that the earlier the card, the more valuable the figure will be - though there are special cases where alternative cards such as foreign labels might fetch more money. The Darth Vader Action Figure is on the following cardbacks:
First Twelve
20 Figure Cardback
21 Figure Card Back
31 Figure Cardback
32 Figure Card Back
41 Figure Cardback
45 Figure Cardback
47 Figure Cardback
48 Figure Card Back
65 Figure Card Back
77 Figure Card Back
79 Figure Cardback
92 Figure Card BackVariations
This section is broken down into three parts. First, we will describe what we call "Pricing Variations". These are differing characteristics in the figure that have a large impact on price. Second, we will look at more distinctive variations that we have identified that may be of interest to collectors. Thirdly, we'll provide links to other variation resources. No one place can cover it all!We curently classify all Darth Vader figures in just one Pricing Variation.
Most action figures have variations of them, and some variations are more desireable to collectors than others. Galactic Collector is currently working on a list of the variations for the Darth Vader action figure. In the meantime, we HIGHLY recommend the following resources. (The following buttons will open these external sites in a new tab/window.)
Advice for selling a vintage Darth Vader Action Figure: (see next section for general selling advice.)
No specific advice for selling a Darth Vader figure. See General Sellers Advice section below.
General advice for selling vintage Star Wars collectibles:
The following suggestions are intended to help you get the best price possible for the figure you are trying to sell, whether you are selling on eBay, Mercari, or any other online platform.
Best Platforms for Selling Vintage Star Wars Action Figures
Every platform has its advantages. If you have a solid brand built in a particular platform - you should definitely sell there. In general, our top pick is eBay. Yes, we are an eBay affiliate, but eBay is a solid, reputable platform that has been around as long as e-commerce. People trust it, and it has solid protections for sellers and buyers. Other platforms like FaceBook Market Place, Mercari, Etsy, and even Poshmark are all solid platforms, but most sellers do not rely on any one of them singly. Often, if you find a listing on one of these platforms, it is likely cross-listed on eBay. So if you are looking to post on a single online platform, eBay is our top recommendation. For local sales, FaceBook Market Place and Craigslist are your best bets. Facebook will probably get you a larger audience, but Craigslist still attracts a large group of people that shy away from social media.Tips For Listing Vintage Star Wars Action Figures Online
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Take clear, close-up photos of the figure, including the following:
- Full body from the front, back, sides AND top.
- Close ups of the accessory/weapon, by itself, from both sides.
- Take photos of any damaged areas, including scratches, rubbed off paint, or discoloration.
- Take photos of the figure standing without help of a stand if you can to demonstrate the tightness of the legs.
- Take photos of the figure with arms extended to demonstrate the tightness of the arms.
- Any the above photo suggestions can of course be combined to minimize the number of photos you need to take/upload. Consider an action pose of the figure from an angle, with weapon in hand, and the head pointed at the camera. This demonstrates a number of traits while at the same time making a cool main photo.
- If the arms and/or legs are loose, disclose that in the listing.
- If there is any damage or discoloration, disclose that in the listing.
- DO NOT buy reproduction weapons to sell with a figure to make them "look complete". Collectors do NOT want reproduction items and your reputation can be ruined for selling them. Do your best to verify the weapon with resources like The Imperial Gunnery. If you can't verify it, mention that in the listing. The more effort you put into knowing the product, the more trust you will earn from the buyers!
- DO NOT post a figure with a vintage accessory that does not go with it and claim that's it's "100% original". Even if the accessory is an original, if it doesn't go to the figure - no one wants to buy it that way. You are better off listing the accessory separately.
- Avoid using the phrase "No Repro" in the listing to try to indicate that it's all original. Many serious collectors have advanced searches that they use, and frequently block "repro" in the search. So, even though you have a "no" in there, you may be losing some of your audience. Instead, use phrases like "100% original" or "complete and all original vintage accessories".
- Do NOT post fuzzy or out of focus pictures. Buyers will likely think that you either don't know what you are doing, or that you are trying to hide something about the figure.
- You do not need fancy cameras to take good pictures for your posting. An older cell phone can often take perfect photos. If you are having trouble getting a clear shot, consider getting or making a simple mount for your phone. This will hold it steady for you while you make sure it gets in focus.
