58. Collecting Prototypes: An Introduction to Hardcopies

When it comes to Star Wars prototypes, hardcopies are some of the rarest surviving pieces.

Hardcopies play a number of a crucial roles in the production and promotion of an action figure.

Kenner hardcopies rarely appear for sale, and when they do, they command prices in the $20,000-$80,000 range, and possibly higher.

Today, Hasbro still uses hardcopies in producing modern figures for the Black Series and The Vintage Collection lines. But finding one is an immense challenge.

So what is a hardcopy, and why is it so important to the history of Star Wars action figures?

Join host David Quinn for a look at how a hardcopy is made, its function in the Kenner and Hasbro toy production process, how it differs from a production figure, and why fakes have entered the market over the years. The hardcopy is truly one of the rarest and most under appreciated items in the world of Star Wars collectibles.

The Collecting Prototypes series explores more than 40 years of modern and vintage Star Wars preproduction pieces from companies like Kenner and Hasbro, and the production process of a Star Wars toy as it goes from concept to retail.

To learn more about vintage hardcopies, please visit The Star Wars Collectors Archive: http://theswca.com/

And order the fantastic book “Gus and Duncan’s Guide to Star Wars Prototypes” for a photo-based look at Kenner hardcopies and other preproduction pieces: http://theswca.com/completists/

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