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Jargon and abbreviations used on GalacticFigures.com and in the collecting community. This list evolves as new lines and terminology surface.
Action Figure Authority. A company which grades Star Wars action figures.
The joints in the figure.
Refers to a Star Wars figure sealed in a plain plastic bag as its packaging. Many vintage mail-away figures and accessories were distributed in baggies instead of on cards, straight from the factory. These bagged figures often came in boxed playsets or promotional offers and are collected for their unique packaging.
Bandai is currently the 4th biggest toy manufacturer in the world. The company is based in Japan and is known for S.H. Figuarts and Meisho Movie Realization Star Wars.
Indicates a multipack of figures.
Bernie Loomis was a key figure in the early success of the Star Wars toy line at Kenner Products. As Vice President of Marketing and later President, Loomis played a crucial role in securing the Star Wars license for Kenner and overseeing the development of the toy line. Under Loomis's direction, Kenner introduced the "Early Bird" offer to bridge the 1977 holiday gap, helping establish Star Wars toys as a major commercial success.
When Star Wars The Black Series was first introduced in 2013, it was conceived as an umbrella brand encompassing a wide range of Star Wars products rather than a single action figure line. Under the Black Series name, Hasbro released items such as board games, role-playing collectibles including premium helmets, a short-lived 3.75-inch die-cast action figure line, a 3.75-inch super articulated figure line, and the now-familiar 6-inch action figure line. At the time, the Black Series branding was intended to unify these diverse products under one collector-focused label.
An unofficial, unlicensed toy produced to imitate a legitimate Star Wars figure or product. Bootleg figures emerged in various countries and often feature unusual variations. While not official, some vintage bootlegs have become collectible. Bootlegs are distinct from reproductions because they were originally sold as toys.
The printed cardboard backing of a figure’s packaging to which the plastic bubble is attached. Collectors value cardbacks for their artwork and character information. Vintage cardbacks are often categorized by the number of figures shown on the reverse.
Cinema Scenes were 3-packs sold during 3 3/4" Power Of The Force 2 toy line in the late 90s. Each cinema scene set included 3 figures an a base with a cardboard backdrop.
The distributor of Star Wars toys for the Benelux region during the vintage era. Clipper imported Kenner or Palitoy figures and added its own branding to the packaging. These items are known for their tri-language presentation and regional uniqueness.
Country Of Origin. Commonly used for vintage figures to indicate where the figure was manufactured.
A display of figures that usually mimics a specific scene.
A rare early lightsaber accessory with two extending sections, included with the original Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, and Ben Kenobi figures. The feature was discontinued early, making surviving examples extremely valuable.
Discover The Force, a small Walmart-exclusive 3 3/4" Star Wars action figure line from 2012.
A certificate package sold by Kenner for Christmas 1977 before figures were ready for retail. Buyers received a display stand, stickers, and a mail-in certificate to redeem the first four figures in 1978. The kit is now a legendary collectible.
3-packs of 3 3/4" figures showing an "evolution" of a character from movie to movie, they were released between 2005 and 2010.
Hasbro's Force Link was a 2017 toy technology that triggered sounds and phrases when figures were brought near a Force Link device. It was similar in spirit to Episode 1's CommTech chips from 1999, adding audio interaction across several figure lines.
POTF2 3 3/4" figures from 1997 - 1999 that included pack-in slides.
Glasslite was a Brazilian company that produced Star Wars figures during the vintage era. Their releases can differ from Kenner versions in materials, paint, and packaging. Because of rarity outside Brazil, Glasslite items are highly sought after, including the famously scarce Vlix figure.
A prominent Star Wars collector and author known for his focus on rare prototypes, international items, and early collecting research. He is widely respected for documenting Star Wars collectibles and sharing knowledge with the community and the person in charge of organizing the Star Wars collecting track for Star Wars Celebration events. He also founded the first website dedicated to collecting Star Wars in the mid 1990s (http://theswca.com/)
An Italian licensee that distributed Star Wars action figures with localized packaging. Harbert items were produced in smaller quantities and are prized for their regional distinctiveness.
Hasbro became the steward of the Star Wars action figure line in 1991 after acquiring Tonka Corporation, which itself owned Kenner, the original manufacturer of Star Wars toys. Through this acquisition, Hasbro inherited not only Kenner’s tooling and design philosophy but also the responsibility of continuing one of the most influential action figure lines in toy history. This transition marked the bridge between the vintage era and the modern relaunch of Star Wars figures in the 1990s.
Under Hasbro’s leadership, Star Wars action figures entered a new phase of growth and experimentation. The company relaunched the brand with Power of the Force 2 in 1995, reestablishing Star Wars toys as a major retail presence and introducing improved sculpts, modern articulation, and expanded character selections. This era laid the groundwork for how modern collectors and fans would experience Star Wars figures moving forward.
In the years that followed, Hasbro continued to refine and diversify the line, eventually introducing cornerstone collector-focused series such as The Vintage Collection and The Black Series. These lines emphasized screen accuracy, premium sculpting, and articulation while appealing to both longtime collectors and new fans. Today, Hasbro remains the primary producer of Star Wars action figures, balancing nostalgia with modern design and continuing to evolve the legacy that began with Kenner in the late 1970s.
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Kenner designer who helped establish the 3.75-inch scale by kit-bashing mock-ups from Fisher Price Adventure People. One of the most, if not THE, most important person responsible for the birth of 3 3/4" Star Wars figures.
Kenner Products, based in Cincinnati, secured the Star Wars toy license in 1977 and turned it into the blueprint for modern movie merchandising. When demand exploded and no figures were ready for the 1977 holidays, Kenner used the Early Bird Certificate Package as a clever bridge, then launched the first 3.75-inch action figures in 1978. That 3.75-inch scale was a game-changer because it made vehicles and playsets practical and affordable, letting kids build out an entire “figure + vehicle + world” ecosystem.
From 1977 through 1985, Kenner produced the original vintage Star Wars lines spanning Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back, Return of the Jedi, and Power of the Force, creating many of the most iconic toys in the hobby. Today, “Kenner” is shorthand for the golden era: classic sculpts, distinctive cardbacks, and the foundational collecting language that still shapes how modern lines like TVC present figures and packaging.
In Star Wars toy collecting, kit-bashing refers to the practice of creating a new figure, vehicle, or prototype by combining parts from existing toys rather than sculpting something entirely from scratch. At Kenner in the late 1970s, designers frequently kit-bashed early Star Wars mock-ups using parts from other toy lines, most notably Fisher-Price Adventure People, to quickly establish scale, proportions, and play features before committing to expensive steel molds.
Kit-bashing was especially important during the early development of the Star Wars line, when time and budgets were tight and the license was still unproven. Many early prototypes and concept figures exist only as kit-bashed pieces, making them fascinating artifacts of the design process.
Refers to the final seventeen figures released in the vintage Kenner line during 1984–1985. These figures were produced in lower numbers and are among the most sought-after vintage releases.
Lili Ledy was a Mexican toy company that held the Star Wars license during the late 1970s and 1980s, producing action figures specifically for the Mexican market. Rather than importing fully finished Kenner figures, many Lili Ledy items were manufactured domestically in Mexico, which resulted in noticeable differences in plastic quality, paint application, and sometimes sculpt details when compared to their U.S. counterparts.
Because of these unique production methods, Lili Ledy figures are highly sought after by collectors today. Variations such as different paint tones, hair colors, and distinct accessories make them stand out within vintage collections. What was once simply regional production has become an important subcategory of vintage Star Wars collecting, with Lili Ledy pieces valued for their rarity, individuality, and clear connection to international licensing history.
A figure that is no longer sealed in its original packaging. Loose figures may or may not include all original accessories and are often used for display or dioramas.
A promotion where collectors could obtain exclusive figures by mailing proof-of-purchase materials. Mail-away figures typically arrived in simple boxes or baggies rather than retail packaging.
Mark Boudreaux’s career on Star Wars toys is virtually unmatched in the history of the industry. Beginning his work at Kenner in 1978, he remained deeply involved with Star Wars toy design for more than 40 years, successfully navigating the major corporate transitions from Kenner to ultimately Hasbro. Very few designers have stayed attached to a single brand for that long, especially one as culturally significant as Star Wars, making his longevity and consistency truly extraordinary.
Boudreaux is perhaps best known for his long-standing association with the Millennium Falcon, widely credited with designing every version of the ship made for the 3¾-inch figure scale, from the original vintage Kenner release through later Hasbro-era updates. He also played a major role in the development of the vintage Kenner Mini-Rigs line, contributing to the imaginative, modular vehicles that became a hallmark of the era. Chances are, if you grew up with Kenner Star Wars toys in the 1970s or 1980s, or even Hasbro Star Wars toys between 1995 and 2023, Mark Boudreaux likely had a hand in creating the toys you played with, making his legacy inseparable from the childhood memories of entire generations.
Meccano was the French licensee responsible for distributing Star Wars action figures during the vintage era, primarily in the late 1970s and early 1980s. While the figures themselves were based on Kenner’s designs, Meccano releases are best known for their distinctive packaging, which featured French-language text and, in some cases, unique card formats not seen in other markets.
Early Meccano carded figures are especially prized by collectors due to their limited production and regional exclusivity. Variants such as square-card releases and early cardback combinations represent a brief but important chapter in Star Wars toy history. Today, Meccano items are valued not only for their scarcity but also for how clearly they illustrate the international expansion of the Star Wars phenomenon during its original theatrical run.
An item that includes its original box and is in mint condition but has been opened. The contents are complete and like new, but the factory seal is broken.
Mini Rigs were a sub-line of small Star Wars vehicles released by Kenner during the vintage era, primarily around 1980. Unlike the mainline vehicles, Mini Rigs were not seen in the films and were instead original designs created to expand the Star Wars universe through toys. They were compact, affordable, and often featured imaginative play features, such as rotating cockpits or unusual weapon mounts.
Although they were not movie-accurate, Mini Rigs have become an important part of vintage Star Wars collecting. Their unique designs, bright colors, and clear “toy-first” creativity capture the experimental spirit of early Kenner development. Today, Mini Rigs are appreciated both as nostalgic playthings and as examples of how Kenner broadened the Star Wars brand beyond what appeared on screen.
Pristine, near-perfect condition, often referring to the item and/or packaging.
A brand-new item that remains factory sealed in its original box. MISB vintage toys are rare and highly valuable.
A figure that remains sealed on its original cardback in mint condition. High-grade MOC vintage figures are among the most valuable collectibles.
New In Box.
Original Trilogy Collection, a 3 3/4" Star Wars figure line released at the end of 2004 in time for the DVD release of the Star Wars trilogy.
Palitoy was the British company responsible for distributing Star Wars action figures in the United Kingdom during the vintage era. Operating under the General Mills umbrella, Palitoy licensed Kenner’s Star Wars toys for the UK market, often using similar figure sculpts but packaging them with Palitoy branding and regional design differences.
Palitoy releases are especially significant to collectors because of their early involvement with the Star Wars line and the distinct packaging variations they produced. Early Palitoy cardbacks, logo variants, and box styles are highly sought after, as they reflect both the global reach of Star Wars and the localized marketing approaches used in different countries during the late 1970s and early 1980s.
Parker was a German distributor that handled Star Wars action figures during the vintage era, working alongside Kenner to bring the line to the German market. Parker releases typically featured standard Kenner figures but with Parker branding added to the packaging, either through logos, stickers, or localized markings, making them immediately identifiable as regional variants.
For collectors, Parker-branded items are valued for their connection to early European Star Wars distribution and their relative scarcity compared to U.S. releases. These figures and packages highlight how Star Wars toys were adapted for different international markets, and Parker variants remain an important niche for collectors who focus on foreign licensees and packaging differences.
PBP and Poch refer to Spanish licensees that produced and distributed Star Wars action figures in Spain during the vintage era. Poch was the original distributor, and later the operation transitioned into PBP, which continued producing figures and packaging for the Spanish market under the Palitoy umbrella. While based on Kenner designs, Spanish releases often featured distinct packaging and occasional figure or paint variations.
PBP and Poch figures are especially appealing to collectors because of these subtle but meaningful differences. Variations in plastic color, paint application, COO markings, and cardbacks help distinguish Spanish releases from their Kenner counterparts. Today, PBP and Poch items are recognized as an important part of international Star Wars collecting, representing Spain’s unique contribution to the vintage line.
Plastic Free Packaging was Hasbro’s 2021 short-lived initiative to reduce plastic in Black Series 6" figure packaging. Collectors pushed back because figures couldn’t be easily inspected, and Hasbro later returned to plastic windows for their releases.
The number of movable joints on a figure.
Refers to both the vintage 1985 Kenner line and the 1995 revival line. Collectors distinguish the modern line as POTF2.
Power Of The Force 2 (1995–2000), a 3 3/4" Star Wars figure line which started the modern collecting age. Collectors added “2” to avoid confusion with the vintage POTF line which came before it in 1985. The POTF2 marked the end of a 10 year hiatus with no 3 3/4" Star Wars figures available at retail.
The Power Of The Jedi was a 3 3/4" Star Wars figure line (2000 - 2002) which for the first time combined original trilogy characters with prequel characters. At the time this was a much loved and support toy line.
A pre-production sample not intended for retail, including hardcopies, test shots, and early weapon or packaging samples. Prototypes often differ from final products and are highly prized.
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A nonprofit Star Wars museum housing Steve Sansweet’s personal collection and recognized as the world’s largest private archive of Star Wars memorabilia. Located in Petaluma, California, it is widely regarded as a cornerstone of Star Wars collecting history and a destination many collectors consider essential to visit at least once in their lifetime.
A previously released figure re-released again without changes.
A figure painted differently compared to a previous incarnation.
A slightly tweaked figure compared to a previous release.
A non-original item made to replicate a vintage accessory, figure, or packaging component. Repro parts are generally discouraged in serious collecting due to authentication concerns.
Revenge Of The Sith (2005).
The 3 3/4" line launched in 2019 with Kenner-style sculpts, limited articulation, and vintage-inspired packaging.
A small sign or display piece used in retail environments to draw attention to products. Vintage shelf talkers are collectible as store display items.
Fabric elements such as capes, robes, or skirts used on action figures instead of molded plastic accessories.
Shadows Of The Empire, a 1996 multimedia event with an accompanying figure line.
Steve Sansweet is often called the godfather of Star Wars collecting. A former journalist and Lucasfilm content executive, he built a massive Star Wars memorabilia collection. His collection is showcased at Rancho Obi-Wan, a major collecting landmark.
The Anniversary Collection (30th Anniversary line, 2006–2008) for 3 3/4" Star Wars figures.
Takara is a Japanese toy company that played a notable role in the international distribution of Star Wars merchandise during the original Kenner era. In Japan, Takara was responsible for releasing and distributing Kenner-produced Star Wars action figures, adapting them for the local market with distinct Japanese packaging and branding. While the figures themselves were largely identical to their Kenner counterparts, the packaging variations set Takara releases apart.
Takara-branded Star Wars figures are especially recognized for their unique cardbacks, which feature Japanese text and design elements tailored to the domestic audience. These regional adaptations make Takara releases an important example of how Star Wars toys were localized for different markets outside the United States. For collectors, the packaging often holds as much significance as the figures, as it reflects a specific moment in the global expansion of Star Wars merchandising.
Today, Takara Star Wars items are highly collectible due to their relative scarcity and regional exclusivity. Collectors value them not only for their visual differences but also for their place in the broader history of Star Wars toys, representing Japan’s contribution to the worldwide success of the franchise and its enduring appeal among international collectors.
The Black Series, launched in 2013. Usually refers to Hasbro’s 6" figure line.
The Legacy Collection 3 3/4" Star Wars toy line (2008–2010).
Toltoys was an Australian toy company that served as the official licensee and distributor of Star Wars toys in Australia during the late 1970s and early 1980s. Working under license from Kenner, Toltoys was responsible for bringing Star Wars action figures, vehicles, and playsets to the Australian market at a time when international distribution often required regional partners. While many of the products themselves were identical to those sold in the United States, Toltoys packaging introduced distinctive regional characteristics.
Top Toys was the Argentinian licensee responsible for producing and distributing Star Wars action figures during the original vintage era. Operating under license from Kenner, Top Toys manufactured a limited selection of figures for the Argentinian market, often working with different production materials and methods compared to their North American counterparts. As a result, Top Toys figures can display noticeable differences in plastic quality, paint applications, and overall finish.
In addition to figure variations, Top Toys releases are also known for their distinctive packaging, which was tailored specifically for the Argentinian market. Cardbacks and boxes often featured unique layouts, regional branding, and localized text, making them visually and historically distinct from Kenner-packaged figures. These packaging differences further contribute to their appeal among collectors who focus on international variants.
A named packaging era/look tied to media and marketing cycles (for example, The Vintage Collection).
A European packaging style featuring three languages on the card front, used in the mid-1980s as the line was winding down.
The Vintage Collection is a Star Wars 3 3/4" figure line which launched in May 2010 at Jedi-con , Germany, followed in August 2010 with a wide retail release in the United States.
TVC 1.0 and TVC 2.0 are terms coined by super-collector Jake Stevens. TVC 1.0 refers to The Vintage Collection toy line from 2010 to 2012, and TVC 2.0 refers to The Vintage Collection toy line from 2018 until today.
A UK-based grading service that evaluates and encapsulates action figures using a numeric grading scale.
Describes a carded figure whose hang tab has not been punched out. Unpunched cards are generally more desirable.
A Turkish-produced line of unlicensed Star Wars bootleg figures known for unusual characters and packaging. Once overlooked, these figures are now highly sought after.
An early Jawa variant that includes a thin vinyl cape instead of a cloth robe. It is one of the rarest production variants in the vintage line.
Refers to original Star Wars toys produced from 1978 to 1985 (remember, there were no Star Wars figures available in 1977). The term distinguishes classic collectibles from modern releases.
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