Any fan of the Star Wars films knows that the movies have generated millions of bits of merchandise for collectors and fans. Licensed clothing, décor, artwork, and more are available. Not every fan has thousands of pristine collectibles sealed in boxes, on display, and cataloged, but Jeff Jacob, a home builder in Littleton, Colorado, is not your average collector.
Photo: Hake’s Auctions
Jacob has been collecting for 32 years, so deciding to let thousands of pieces go under the hammer wasn’t an easy decision. WorthPoint spoke to Jacob about his collection and the experience of putting decades’ worth of collecting and curating up for sale to the general public.
WorthPoint: Thanks, Jeff, for talking to us. Your collection has been generating a ton of buzz among collectors and fans. Were you surprised at the attention it’s been getting?
Jeff Jacob: Well, a bit. Obviously, there are thousands of collectors I knew would be interested, and online in some of the collector forums, there’s a lot of interest, but I was a little shocked at how much it’s generated, even among people who don’t collect toys like mine.
WP: The Star Wars items are getting a lot of attention. But there are other pieces in the auction that are not Star Wars-related, correct?
JJ: Yes, Star Wars items always get a lot of attention, but in my collection, I also have some GI Joe items, Masters of the Universe, Transformers, and other lines of toys. When I decide to collect something, I want my collection to be complete. If a line has 20 items, I want to have them all. I guess that makes me a “complete-ist” because I like knowing that I have one of each piece.
WP: Many collectors have one item they call their “white whale” that they always wanted to get but never were able to find. Even with your vast collection, do you have a white whale?
JJ: Oh yes, absolutely. It’s the Star Wars Empire Strikes Back Vinyl Cape Jawa. It was exclusive to Australia, and it’s believed there are only about five left in existence that are still in the package. I was offered one that wasn’t in its original package, and I’m very stubborn about condition; I only collect high-grade items, so I said no, but I do wish I’d purchased it.
WP: How did you decide to sell your collection? Was there a specific reason you were ready to divest?
JJ: There were multiple reasons. I’ve been collecting for so long, and some of what I have is irreplaceable. I had a friend in his 70s who also had a large collection of items, mainly related to treasure hunting, and he had no interest in what would happen to his collection when he passed. I want to see people complete their collections with the items I have searched out and preserved. I want people to enjoy the collection of pieces the way I have.
Before deciding to sell, I did try to get interest and backing for a museum of these kinds of collectible toys, but it just didn’t happen, so selling them seemed a way to let others enjoy the collection. We looked for real estate and locations in top tourist areas, but we couldn’t make it happen, so that’s when I decided to sell the collection. I wanted others to have the chance to enjoy it the way I have. Finally, age was a factor. I’m at the point where I’m thinking about my retirement and what my kids need. I’m building a new house, and if I had to add rooms to store my collection and move it all to the new place, it would be too big of a task. After all this, it seemed the time had come to let it go.
WP: How do you think it will feel when you no longer have a collection? Do you think you will start another collection of different items?
JJ: Well, I am not selling everything. I’m keeping most of my “out of the package” pieces. They are less rare and less valuable than most other items, but they let me keep some of what I like without feeling it’s all gone. I’m not sure if I will start another collection; there is so much going on in my life right now it’s hard to find the time. Perhaps I will eventually. I believe that once you are a collector, it’s in your blood; you will always want to collect something.
WP: Will it be difficult to see your collection packed up and gone when the auction ends?
JJ: That’s actually already happened. Before the auction opened, the truck arrived at our home and carefully packed it all into boxes. It was a little bit surreal, but I’d made up my mind.
WP: Any auction house would want to handle a collection like yours. How did you come to work with Hake’s?
JJ: Three times a year, I go to The Chicago Toy Show and Hake’s was always a presence there. I was chatting with Kelly McClain. I really respected how his company came to the show, interacted with collectors, and had a good relationship with the community of vintage fans and collectors.
I mentioned once that if I ever sold my collection, I would choose them to handle it. Now that I’ve decided to sell, I wouldn’t have gone anywhere else. They are great at promoting their auctions and understanding the people who have been collecting for years. With them, my collection will be in good hands.
WP: Thank you, Jeff, for talking with us today, and good luck with the auction.
Part One of the Jeff Jacob Auction ended on January 22, 2025. The results and some comments from WorthPoint’s Industry Partner, Hake’s Auction, can be found here.
Brenda Kelley Kim lives in the Boston area. She is the author of Sink or Swim: Tales From the Deep End of Everywhere and writes a weekly syndicated column for The Marblehead Weekly News/Essex Media Group. When not writing or walking her snorty pug, Penny, she enjoys yard sales, flea markets, and badminton.
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