1978 Star Wars Vinyl Cape Jawa

Somewhere in a Kenner factory in 1978, someone made a decision that would be worth a small fortune decades later. The first Jawa action figures shipped with a simple vinyl cape - a tiny piece of black plastic draped over the figure's shoulders. It looked cheap. Kenner agreed, and quickly swapped it for a cloth cape. That switch turned the vinyl cape version into one of the rarest Star Wars figures ever made.

Quick Value Summary


Item	1978 Star Wars Vinyl Cape Jawa (Kenner)
Year	1978
Category	Toys & Figures - Star Wars
Manufacturer	Kenner
Original Retail	~$2.49
Condition Range
Loose, Good Condition	$1,500 – $5,000
Loose, Excellent	$5,000 – $10,000
Carded (12-back MOC)	$10,000 – $16,000+
Factory Sealed / AFA Graded	$16,000 – $21,000+
Record Sale	$21,000 (carded example)
Rarity	Very Rare

The Story

When Star Wars exploded in 1977, Kenner wasn't ready. The toy company famously sold empty boxes - "Early Bird Certificate" packages - as a promise that action figures were coming. When the first wave of 3.75-inch figures finally shipped in early 1978, the Jawa came with a small vinyl cape.

The problem was perception. Next to figures like Darth Vader and Chewbacca with their detailed sculpts, the tiny Jawa with its flimsy vinyl cape looked like a ripoff. Parents were paying the same price for noticeably less toy. Kenner pulled the vinyl cape version quickly and replaced it with a more substantial cloth cape that covered the figure more completely.

Nobody at Kenner thought this decision mattered. It was a simple quality improvement. But because the vinyl cape version shipped for such a short period, far fewer made it into kids' hands. And the ones that did? Most got lost, broken, or thrown away decades ago. Today, a confirmed authentic vinyl cape Jawa is one of the crown jewels of Star Wars collecting.

How to Identify It

The Vinyl Cape

The vinyl cape is a small, stiff piece of black plastic - think of a tiny garbage bag poncho. It fits snugly over the Jawa's arms and hangs down the back. Key features:

Material: Shiny black vinyl (not fabric)
Fit: Tight-fitting over the arms with a crosshatch texture on the outside
Shape: Simple rectangular cut, no stitching or seams like the cloth version
Size: Smaller and less substantial than the cloth replacement

Vinyl vs. Cloth - The Key Difference

The cloth cape Jawa is far more common. It has a brown fabric cloak that wraps around the figure. If your Jawa has a fabric cape, it's the standard version - still collectible, but worth a fraction of the vinyl cape variant.

Common Fakes

This is a high-value figure, and reproductions exist. Watch for:

Reproduction capes: Third-party vinyl capes are made to fit Jawa figures. Check the texture - originals have a specific crosshatch pattern on the exterior
Color: Authentic vinyl capes are a uniform black. Reproductions may be slightly off in shade or sheen
Cape fit: Original capes fit snugly on the figure's arms. Loose or ill-fitting capes are suspect

Value by Condition

Loose Figure (No Packaging)

Condition	Value
Fair (paint wear, cape damage)	$1,500 – $3,000
Good (minor wear, cape intact)	$3,000 – $5,000
Excellent (minimal wear)	$5,000 – $10,000
Near Mint	$10,000 – $12,000

Even a beat-up vinyl cape Jawa is worth serious money. The cape itself is the value - the figure is identical to the cloth cape version.

Carded / Sealed

Condition	Value
MOC (Mint on Card), 12-back	$10,000 – $16,000
AFA Graded 80+	$16,000 – $21,000+

A factory-sealed vinyl cape Jawa on its original 12-back card is one of the most valuable vintage Star Wars items outside of prototype pieces. Only a handful are known to exist in high-grade condition.

Authentication & Fakes

The vinyl cape Jawa is one of the most counterfeited Star Wars figures. Before spending thousands:

Examine the cape closely. The original crosshatch pattern on the outside is distinctive. Compare to verified examples in collector databases
Check the figure itself. The Jawa body should match production-era examples with correct paint and markings
Get professional authentication. AFA (Action Figure Authority) grading is the standard for high-value Star Wars figures. The grading fee is trivial compared to the stakes
Buy from reputable sources. Established vintage Star Wars dealers and major auction houses are your safest bet
Beware eBay bargains. If someone is selling a vinyl cape Jawa for suspiciously cheap, there's a reason

Where to Sell

Heritage Auctions - Handles major vintage Star Wars sales
Hake's Auctions - Specializes in pop culture and toy collectibles
Established Star Wars dealers - Galactic Collector and similar specialists
eBay - Viable for authenticated/AFA-graded examples with proper documentation

Get it graded by AFA before selling. An ungraded loose figure creates doubt; a graded one commands premium prices.

Not sure if your Jawa has a vinyl or cloth cape? Upload a photo to Curio Comp for a free AI estimate. Upload a photo →

Common Questions

How much is a vinyl cape Jawa worth?

Loose figures range from $1,500 to $12,000 depending on condition. Carded examples can reach $16,000 to $21,000+. The cape is the key - without an authentic vinyl cape, you have a standard Jawa worth $20 to $100.

How can I tell if my Jawa has a vinyl or cloth cape?

Vinyl is shiny black plastic with a crosshatch texture. Cloth is brown fabric. If you can crumple it like fabric, it's cloth. If it's stiff plastic, it's vinyl. The difference is obvious once you know what you're looking at.

Why is the vinyl cape version so valuable?

Kenner replaced the vinyl cape with cloth early in production because parents felt the vinyl looked cheap for the price. The vinyl version shipped for a very short window, making surviving examples rare. Most were played with and discarded by kids in the late 1970s.

Are reproduction vinyl capes common?

Yes. Several third-party manufacturers make replica vinyl capes. Some are sold as acknowledged reproductions; others are passed off as originals. Always authenticate before buying at collector prices.