--- VINYL CAPE JAWA ---

This web site has been set up (quite quickly I might add) to show to anyone interested some detailed photos of a vintage Empire Strikes Back vinyl cape jawa that I've had in my collection since 1980.

The figure was given to me by my dad when I was 10 years old.  I all ready had a cloth cape jawa at the time, so I didn't quite understand the point of having a second.  My dad just said: "Well, it looks different to your other one... doesn't it?"

It was given to me on an Empire Strikes Back (41-back) card, so according to every Star Wars collection site on the web - IT'S A FAKE!
It has a fairly dark reddish cape (almost identical to the Ben Kenobi cape), so according to every Star Wars collection site on the web - IT'S A FAKE!
The cape's inside face is smooth (without the distinctive crosshatch pattern), so according to every Star Wars collection site on the web - IT'S A FAKE!

***FAKE***FAKE***FAKE***FAKE***FAKE***FAKE***FAKE***FAKE***FAKE***FAKE***FAKE***

All I knew was, it was given to me and opened by me and kept in my action figure carry case for over 20 years.  (I even still have the card).  If it was a fake, it was done so by Toltoys (licenced Kenner distributor for Australia) in the very early 80's, before any collection status or value was placed on the so called "genuine article".

I had NO reason to doubt it myself until I thought about selling it on Ebay.  Over the last few years I've heard of them selling high even for a loose figure, so I bit the bullet and decided to part with it.  I knew that some sellers were faking them with cut down Kenobi capes, but I also knew that true collectors could spot a fake, so I was quite confident that I would have little trouble selling it to a true vintage collector.  Still, I wanted to know how to spot the fakes so I could describe mine with confidence it need be.

That's when every thing went pear shaped (and no mistake!).  If you've ever googled "fake vinyl jawa" you'll know there are literally hundreds of web sites out there pointing out the fakes from the legits.   The more I read the less confident I became with my little guy.  I knew it was the real deal, so what gives?  Then at last salvation!  I stumbled across a fantastic site that showed me the light! http://www.toysrgus.com/images-forei/toltoys-esb-vcjawa.html

According to this site, there was a rare Australian variation.  For some reason Toltoys Australia released a few ESB vinyl caped jawas and who knows, they probably did just cut down some old Kenobi capes then flog them off.

So anyway, long story short (too late), I stuck it up on Ebay, got a zillion emails asking for proof and then learned in a Star Wars collectors forum - http://www.potf2.com that there may well only be 4 of these figure known to exist!......

And I quote:
"There is indeed an Australian VC Jawa on an ESB card, 3 to be precise. There are 2 carded and one still in a bubble on a cut card. The 2
carded were sent to the US to be examined last summer. I was lucky enough to be one of the collectors that got to give both carded, along
with 2 loose figures, a once over. They were examined in Pennsylvania one day by Chris Georgoulias, Chris Nichols (known Jawa collector),
Ron Salvatore, James Gallo, Todd Chamberlain, myself, and Jeff Correll. After that Chris Georgoulias brought both to Delaware to be
examined under a dissecting microscope by himself and Mike Mensinger. Then they sent them cross country to California to be examined by
John Kellerman. After John it was shipped to Georgia to be AFA examined and graded. Not only were 2 carded and 2 loose figures sent but
childhood pics and detailed pictures w/ facts pointed out. There really was no way any of us could deny how real these figures were."

John J. Alvarez 

So until I can sort it out, the figure has been pulled from auction.  I'm still committed to selling it, but first I'd like to get it authenticated and appraised (although I'm really not sure how).

In the mean time, here are some pics for all you non-believers....

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