The enormous success of Star Wars in the late 1970s resulted in far more than the famous Kenner action figures. Almost every type of children’s merchandise received the Star Wars treatment, and among the more unusual toys produced were a series of Star Wars Play-Doh sets.
Today these sets make an interesting collecting area in their own right. They combine vintage Star Wars packaging and artwork with a toy that was very much designed to be opened, played with and ultimately used up. As a result, finding complete examples – particularly with their original Play-Doh and packaging – can be considerably harder than might be expected.
Kenner Star Wars Play-Doh Sets
The Play-Doh range appeared during the original Star Wars trilogy and included sets based on Star Wars, The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. Rather than being conventional action figure playsets, the sets allowed children to make their own Star Wars characters from Play-Doh using plastic moulds. Depending on the set, additional pieces could include a printed playmat, small vehicle, modelling tool and cans of coloured Play-Doh.
Among the vintage Star Wars Play-Doh sets produced were:
Star Wars Action Set – an early set from the original film era.
Attack the Death Star – another early Star Wars-themed Play-Doh set.
Ice Planet Hoth – based around the frozen world featured prominently in The Empire Strikes Back.
Dagobah / Yoda – featuring Yoda and the swamp world where Luke Skywalker receives his Jedi training.
Wicket the Ewok – a later set featuring Wicket, with packaging connected to the animated Ewoks interpretation of the character.
Jabba the Hutt – a Return of the Jedi set centred on Jabba and his entourage.
The range therefore spans much of the classic 1977–1983 Star Wars period and makes an unusual companion collection to vintage figures, vehicles and playsets.
Star Wars Play-Doh in Britain
British collectors should also watch for the Palitoy Star Wars Adventure Modelling Set. Palitoy was responsible for much of the Star Wars toy range sold in Britain, and its Star Wars products and packaging have become a major collecting field.
The British Play-Doh set is particularly interesting to collectors building a collection of UK Star Wars merchandise rather than concentrating solely on the better-known American Kenner releases.
What Makes a Star Wars Play-Doh Set Collectable?
Completeness is particularly important with these toys.
A child opening a Star Wars action figure could play with it for years and still leave the figure largely intact. Play-Doh was different. The modelling compound was intended to be removed from its cans, pressed into the moulds, mixed together and played with. Accessories and modelling tools were also easily lost.
Original unused contents can consequently make a substantial difference to the desirability of a surviving set.
Collectors should look for the original box, character moulds, playmat, modelling tools and any vehicles or accessories supplied with the particular set. Original Play-Doh cans are also desirable, even though their contents may have dried considerably over more than four decades.
Box condition is another important consideration. Star Wars artwork is a large part of the appeal of these sets, so a bright box with relatively little crushing, tearing or fading is likely to be more desirable than a heavily damaged example.
At the top of the market are unopened or factory-sealed sets. These demonstrate just how difficult it is to find a children’s modelling toy that somehow escaped being opened and used.
How Much Are Vintage Star Wars Play-Doh Sets Worth?
Values vary considerably according to the particular set, condition and, most importantly, completeness.
Opened and incomplete sets can still appeal to collectors, particularly when the box and principal moulds survive. Complete examples with unused contents are considerably more desirable, while sealed sets can command a substantial premium.
Some sets also appear on the market much less frequently than others.
As with most vintage Star Wars toys, it is important to distinguish between an asking price and an actual selling price. Rare toys are sometimes advertised online at ambitious prices which do not necessarily reflect what collectors are prepared to pay.
The World Collectors Net Price Guide records actual auction and online sale results where possible, providing a better indication of the prices collectors are currently paying.
Collecting Vintage Star Wars Play-Doh
Star Wars Play-Doh remains a relatively specialised area compared with collecting the original Kenner action figures, but that is part of its attraction. The colourful boxes display instantly recognisable characters from the original trilogy, while the contents represent a wonderfully simple form of late 1970s and early 1980s Star Wars merchandising.
More importantly for collectors, these were toys made to be consumed. Every surviving complete or unused example has somehow escaped the fate for which it was originally intended – being opened by an enthusiastic young Star Wars fan and turned into a collection of brightly coloured Play-Doh characters.
Related
Kenner Star Wars Cloud City Playset Price Guide
