RELATED LINKS Unproduced Droids C-3PO Case (Boxed) Unproduced Droids C-3PO Case (Loose) Prototype C-3PO Cases Clear C-3PO Case Prototype Clear C-3PO Case Prototype (version 2) Dull Gold C-3PO Case Prototype C-3PO Case Engineering Pilot Prototype C-3PO Case (Alternate Eye Detail) White C-3PO Case Prototype Hasbro C-3PO Case Prototype Hasbro C-3PO Case Toy Fair Prototype C-3PO Case Packaging Flat Kenner Spec Sheet Showing Mock-Up of C-3PO Case C-3PO Case with Free POTF Figures Attached C-3PO Case on Reverse of 65-Back Blister Card C-3PO Case at Toy Fair 1984 C-3PO Case at Toy Fair 1984 (#2)

Front

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Catalog Entry

Catalog Description: STAR WARS: RETURN OF THE JEDI C-3PO COLLECTOR'S CASE A shining example of a Collector's Case! Life-size golden sculpting of the world's most popular droid, C-3PO. This new C-3PO Collector's Case holds up to 40 STAR WARS Action Figures plus accessories and includes a pressure-sensitive label sheet to identify them. Close it up and the hidden handle allows a child to carry C-3PO anywhere. Action Figures sold separately. Ages 4 and up. Source: 1983 Kenner Toy Fair Catalog

Description:
Envisioned, no doubt, as Kenner's successor to their ultra-popular Darth Vader Collector's Case (originally issued in 1980), the C-3PO Collector's Case held 40 figures and featured a great vac-metallized surface of gold. Although, like the Vader case, it didn't do a wonderful job of containing the figures inside of their storage comparments, the sculpting of the droid's bust and the shiny quality of it made for a pretty impressive-looking item.

First released in 1983, the C-3PO Collector's Case actually appeared on store shelves beside it's Darth Vader counterpart for a time. It also co-existed with the Laser Rifle Carry Case of 1984. Although, in 1985, Kenner had plans to issue the C-3PO case as part of their Droids line, the line as a whole flopped and the Droids C-3PO case never came to pass. It's unfortunate because the few prototypes of the piece that exist--made of a bright, yellow-colored plastic that accurately represents the look of the animated C-3PO--are truly lovely to behold.

Whether loose or packaged, the C-3PO Collector's Case is not incredibly common; it's much more scarce than the virtually omni-present Darth Vader case. Unused packaged examples should have their cardboard skirts and clear plastic wrappings intact.

In the '90s, Hasbro issued a carrying case for their new line of Star Wars action figures, which was made using the molds developed for Kenner's old C-3PO Collector's Case. It lacked the metallic gold finish of its vintage counterpart and included several electronic features.

First Issued: 1983 (ROTJ packaging, 65 figures on back)
Re-issues: None

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