This one is a really special addition to my collection for me, and I'm gonna have to add a story too, so bear with me. 32 years ago, in December 1979, I got a large size Boba Fett for my birthday from my grandparents. I was absolutely thrilled. I remember gazing longingly at the figure in Robinson's (old, now defunct department store chain in Canada), so wishing I could buy him, but the $24.99 price tag put him hopelessly out of reach. Luckily my grandmother found out from my mom that I really wanted him, so she picked him up for me for my birthday. I was 12 years old, in grade seven, but dammit I wasn't ready to outgrow toys yet. He was the first of only two large size SW figures I owned back then (no other kids I knew even had any), and I took him everywhere. Even when we went on a family vacation to Jamaica, I packed him in my suitcase, along with my Ace and Gene KISS dolls (I remember a very bemused Jamaican Customs officer examining my suitcase ).
Anyway, in my teenage years I kept him packed away in my closet, box and all, with my KISS dolls, Shogun Warriors and the rest of the toys I kept (I was older now and too "cool" for toys but I couldn't part with them). I was surprised to find out in late 1980's Star Wars price guides that he had become valuable, but I had no intention of selling him. But finally, in 1995, my cousin made me an offer I couldn't refuse (he coveted that figure for years, but I would never sell or trade him). So I shipped him off and tried to forget about him, I didn't have much money at the time, so the cash came in handy.
In my sporadic contact with my cousin since then, he was always sure to tell me that he still had the figure and the only time he would consider selling it was back to me, to keep it in the family, which I thought was touching. I'd always meant to buy it back but kept putting it off. But recently he contacted me to make me a deal. I had gotten a set of old monster trading cards from the 1960's from him around 20 years ago in a trade deal (we always did trades since we were kids). They were actually his father's cards originally, who was recently inquiring about them. He was hoping I still had them, and luckily I did, so we worked out a deal. So, I'm happy my uncle can see his childhood monster cards again, and I can have an old childhood friend back in my collection after an absence of 16 years or so (and it means even more to me now because my grandparents have since passed away). Thanks cuz!
Anyway, in my teenage years I kept him packed away in my closet, box and all, with my KISS dolls, Shogun Warriors and the rest of the toys I kept (I was older now and too "cool" for toys but I couldn't part with them). I was surprised to find out in late 1980's Star Wars price guides that he had become valuable, but I had no intention of selling him. But finally, in 1995, my cousin made me an offer I couldn't refuse (he coveted that figure for years, but I would never sell or trade him). So I shipped him off and tried to forget about him, I didn't have much money at the time, so the cash came in handy.
In my sporadic contact with my cousin since then, he was always sure to tell me that he still had the figure and the only time he would consider selling it was back to me, to keep it in the family, which I thought was touching. I'd always meant to buy it back but kept putting it off. But recently he contacted me to make me a deal. I had gotten a set of old monster trading cards from the 1960's from him around 20 years ago in a trade deal (we always did trades since we were kids). They were actually his father's cards originally, who was recently inquiring about them. He was hoping I still had them, and luckily I did, so we worked out a deal. So, I'm happy my uncle can see his childhood monster cards again, and I can have an old childhood friend back in my collection after an absence of 16 years or so (and it means even more to me now because my grandparents have since passed away). Thanks cuz!
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