4-LOM Carded Sample on ESB 45-Back Card
Carded Samples can come in a variety of styles. The figures can be painted Hardcopies, Internal First Shots, First Shots, or production figures. The card backs can be Sample Cards, Proof Cards, or production cards. Finally, the bubbles can be hand cut or production quality and can be applied by hand with glue or double sided tape or applied by machine. These samples would mainly be used for presentation internally, as salesman samples, or for photographic purposes. In other words provenance is key when dealing with Carded Samples. With so much variety involved a collector must make sure their source is rock solid.

As you can see this is a 4-LOM carded sample. The figure is mounted onto a 4-LOM 45 back Arena Offer Sample Card. The figure itself is most likely a First Shot, though it's hard to tell with this example.

What makes this sample even cooler is the controversy that surrounds it. This figure is thought to have premiered on a 48 back card yet it, much like Zuckuss, had at least made it to the proofing and sample carding stage much earlier. Production quality 45 backs have not surfaced yet for either figure but these carded samples do give many hope.

Description by: John J. Alvarez
Photo: Sandy Rivers
From the collection of: Sandy Rivers
Country:United States
Film:Empire Strikes Back
Licensee:Kenner
Year:1980
Category:Prototypes / Action Figure Related


  


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