Box Sides (click to enlarge)
Variation Box w/ Rebate Sticker (click to enlarge)
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Box Sides (click to enlarge)
Variation Box w/ Rebate Sticker (click to enlarge)
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Catalog Description:
STAR WARS LAND OF THE JAWAS Action playset authentically depicts the adventures of the JAWAS on LUKE SKYWALKER'S home planet, TATOOINE. Simulated desert sand dune base with boulders and cave for hiding. Action lever allows JAWAS to capture R2-D2 or knock over other STAR WARS action figures in mock battles. Replica of escape landing pod pops open and holds R2-D2 and C-3PO or any other two STAR WARS action figures. Detachable SANDCRAWLER backdrop has manual elevator that lifts JAWAS and other action figures into SANDCRAWLER. Assembly required. Ages 4 and up.
Image Source: 1980 Sears Canada Wishbook |
Description:
Land of the jawas. Sounds exotic, doesn't it? Like something out of a Jules Verne novel, or maybe the next town over from Munchkin Land. In truth, however, this great Land, this vast and exciting playground of desert adventure, was little more than a small plastic base and a cardboard backdrop. Let's face it, calling this thing Land of the Jawas is about as accurate as referring to Gary Coleman's popularity in the present tense.
But goofy names aside, the Land of the Jawas playset wasn't a total waste. For starters, it came with a pretty cool replica of the escape pod in which C-3PO and R2-D2 exited Princess Leia's Stormtrooper-infested space ship at the outset of Star Wars. Sure, it was vastly out-of-scale, but when the only other plastic article contained in the toy's box is a sand-colored platform, who's going to complain? The playset also had a cardboard backdrop representing the Jawa's customized desert tank, the Sandcrawler. It, too, was sized incorrectly, but it allowed kids to recreate exciting Star Wars scenes, such as the purchasing of the droids by Luke and Uncle Owen, and Obi-Wan's magnificent burning of the Jawa carcasses.
Kenner must have sold tons of these sets, because they're very easy to find in the unpackaged state. In unused, packaged condition, they are much more difficult to find, not to mention more valuable. Kenner later reused the mold for the Land of the Jawas base for two Empire Strikes Back playsets, Hoth Ice Planet and Rebel Command Center. The color of the plastic used to injection-mold it was simply changed from tan to white, in order to simulate snow drifts rather than sand dunes.
Although this toy is depicted in ESB packaging in Kenner's 1980 catalog, it was only issued in a Star Wars box. Late in the period of its availability, an offer for an action figure rebate was placed in Land of the Jawas boxes. Consequently, a sticker advertising this offer can be found on some examples of the toy. It should also be noted that Sears Canada issued a version of the set that came with a free Jawa figure, while British Palitoy produced a similar but distinctly different version of it.
First Issued: 1979 (SW packaging)
Re-issues: 1979 (SW packaging, with rebate sticker)
