Week 9: Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi

Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi is another of the original 12 figures that (much like Luke and Vader) was supposed to have a double telescoping saber. Well, we all know the story as Kenner opted to use the more commonly known one piece saber. As a result DT figures are quite rare and the DT Ben is probably the rarest of all production figures. According to www.toysrgus.com, there are only 3 known examples of a carded DT Ben Kenobi. I imagine there are not many more loose examples either. Mine of course is a reproduction.

The Ben Kenobi figure is another that also underwent a picture change on the card about mid-way through the ROTJ line. Pictured is a 12-back Obi-Wan Kenobi and my own POTF Kenobi. The 12-back pic is taken from www.12-back.com. 

According to Kellerman's book, Obi-wan is known to exist on the following cardbacks/offers:

Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi (original picture):
SW 12 Back A,B
SW 20 Back A
SW 20 Back E w/Fett offer
SW 20 Back K w/Secret Figure offer sticker over Fett offer
SW 21 Back C w/Secret figure offer
ESB 21 Back H w/Secret figure offer and "offer extended" sticker on back
ESB 31 Back A
ESB 32 Back B
ESB 41 Back A w/Survival Kit offer
ESB 45 Back A w/Display Arena offer
ESB 47 Back A w/4-LOM offer
ESB 48 Back C w/Ackbar offer
ROTJ 48 Back D w/Nein Nunb offer
ROTJ 65 Back A
Ben (Obi-Wan) Kenobi (new picture)
ROTJ 65 Back C w/Emperor offer
ROTJ 77 Back A
ROTJ 79 Back A
POTF 92 Back

Shown below are some interesting foreign carded Obi-wans I found over at www.toysrgus.com:

Harbert 12-back from Italy:

Dutch Clipper 12-back from the Netherlands:

Meccano 20-back from France:

ESB (or El Imperio Contraataca) from Spain:

Tri-logo Ben Kenobi from UK:

I dont know much about loose Ben Kenobi variations other than the standard white/grey hair variants. I am sure others exist (Palitoy, Lili Ledy, Taiwan?? etc.), but these are what I have:

>From left to right I have:

1. White Hair Ben Kenobi (w/repro DT Saber): G.M.G.F.I 1977 / Made in Hong Kong in two lines around the middle of his left leg and in larger font than the other two. Also the black paint applied to his belt in kinda thin. Face sculpt is also different than the other two.

2. Grey Hair Ben Kenobi: G.M.G.F.I. 1977 / Made in Hong Kong in two lines at the top of his and in much smaller font than the White Hair. Face sculpt is different from the white hair version as well. Belt is painted a bit wider than the white hair version as well.

3. Grey/White Hair Ben Kenobi: More white then Grey actually but it's features are not like the white haired version. The date and COO is exactly the same as the grey haired variant and the belt is painted the same as well. The face sculpt is the same as the grey haired version, but the eyes are darker. The hair is more of an off-white/grey color and not as white as the white haired version.


Prices: 

Did a few completed searches and this is what Ben's are going for now:

LOOSE (mint and complete): about $10-$15.

MOC: 12-Back $200+ non-graded (AFA will be more)
ESB: $75-$125
ROTJ: $50+
POTF: $120 (with a AFA85 going for over $380!!!) I need to have mine graded and sell that sucker!!! LOL! 

Anyway, all kidding aside, I like my carded POTF Ben just the way it is for now unless I someday come across a good deal on a Star Wars carded example. As alot of you may know, I am not a fan of AFA by any means. I only have one AFA graded figure (AFA 70 Harbert Vader) and the temptation to set him free from that hideous case comes and goes, but I havent...........yet. 

Next week, I will do another vehicle. I am thinking about doing the X-Wing especially since I FINALLY acquired a loose Palitoy example with box several weeks ago that I would like to show off. And as always please feel free to stop by the forums and let me know what you think of this particular feature or figure and feel free to show off any pics or knowledge you might have as well. If you are not registered, I can only say........what are you waiting for???!! :)
 

 Thanks for reading!