14 karat Goldenrod--only $6000

RocketNews24 reports that, in celebration of the 35th anniversary of Star Wars, a solid gold C-3PO statue is on sale in Japan for about US$6000. From the report:  

To celebrate the 35th anniversary of the release of Lucas Films’ Star Wars, just 35 limited-edition, solid gold C-3PO figurines went on sale yesterday for a mere 500,000 yen (about $6000).

The science fiction movie Star Wars, released in 1977, was a record-breaking, once in a lifetime hit. The models of the beloved characters from the series, C-3PO and a pure silver R2D2 (150,000 yen/about $1800), will be valuable collectables. The figures are each crafted from about 35g of precious metal, recreated in life-like detail, and are sure to be a much-coveted item among fans. Each is uniquely numbered and comes encased in a glass dome. Only 35 of the statues will be sold world-wide.

Also for sale are extra large, pure silver commemorative coins (248,000 yen/about $2960), measuring 1kg, 100mm in diameter and 14mm in thickness. Using a design by Lucas Films and a new color printing technique, the coins are elaborately decorated with vivid reliefs from the movie, including the Star Wars logo, the Death Star, and lightsabers. Only 500 coins will be made available.

If you've got more money than sense, this should be just the thing.

RocketNews24: A Solid Gold C-3PO, Other 35th Anniversary Memorabilia for the Ultimate Star Wars Fan Boy

Why Han called Threepio "Goldenrod"? Topps 4th series #207

In 1977 the Topps trading card company had the US licence for Star Wars trading cards. It released five series of cards in 1977 alone, including the fourth series against a green border. 

Card number 207 in this series featured a remarkable irregularity. As explained on the Star Wars Trading Cards web site:

Card number 207, as it was originally printed, appeared to give C-3P0 an added appendage that would not be particularly necessary for a droid. For this reason, the card is often referred to by collectors as the obscene version of the card. In reality, the added appendage (which might indeed be a trick of the light in the photograph) isn't terribly noticeable at first glance, and far from being obscene, is somewhat humorous in appearance.

Parents of course were not amused, and as rumors about the existence of an 'obscene' Star Wars card circulated, complaints began to come in. Topps responded by reprinting card 207 for subsequent print lots.

It is a myth that the obscene 207 is rare. It is not rare. The same number of 207 cards were printed as any other card in the initial print run. In other words, thousands and thousands of these cards were printed. The same is true of the corrected version of the card. Neither card is particularly hard to locate.

Being Canadian, I never came across this card as a child. The Canadian licensee, Opee Chee, did not reproduce it (or any of the green series). Even if I had I seen this card, as a four year old or even later, I wouldn't have known there was anything obscence about it. But it does make me snicker now. And I'm not buying the "trick of the light" theory. 

As Retro Star Wars puts it, "I never knew he had it in him."

StarWarsCards.net: Star Wars Trading Cards: 1977 Topps Star Wars Series Four

Retro Star Wars: The infamous Topps Star Wars Card #207

Amazon.com Star Wars Halloween costumes: get your inflatable Tauntaun

Halloween is just around the corner, but Amazon.com can handle expedited shipping. Head over there now to choose from Inflatable Tauntaun, Inflatable Jabba, Secret Wishes Princess Leia (?) and more. Sorry, the hilariously crappy C-3PO costume is out of stock.

Amazon.com: Inflatable Tauntaun Adult Costume

Amazon.com: Jabba the Hutt Inflatable Costume

Amazon.com: Secret Wishes Princess Leia Costume

Amazon.com: Adult C3PO Robot Star Wars Halloween Costume

"Black C-3PO"--funny or stupid?

I'm not sure I like this very much, and I might like it even less if I were black, but it's making the rounds so have a look and decide for yourself.

Sillof's Workshop: Star Wars goes steampunk, samurai, western, WW2 and more

Sillof (not his real name) is a high school history and film teacher who, in his spare time, creates one-of-a-kind action figures of Star Wars (and other) characters re-imagined for steampunk, samurai, western, World War Two, mediaeval, film noir and other settings. Amazingly, he claims to have no formal art training.

Art DeterChip PepperdinoIt is not just the quality of the sculptures that is remarkable. Sillof also has a wonderful sense of the genres he is working in and how best to reflect the traits of Star Wars characters in them. Take, for instance, the Noir Wars line of Star Wars characters re-imagined for the film noir era. C-3PO becomes Chip Pepperdino, a reporter for the San Francisco Sentinel who is always around the action but prefers not to be part of it. His sidekick is Art Deter, a photographer for the Sentinel who tries a little too hard to get involved in the cases and stories he and Chip cover. These are just two of dozens of examples. 

Sillof's Star Wars lines include Noir Wars, Samurai Wars, Long Ago & Far Away, Steampunk Star Wars, West Wars and World Wars. Check out his other ranges, too. Note that these are one-of-a-kind pieces and most are not for sale.

Sillof's Workshop