EMPIRE STRIKES BACK ERA BAGGIES
In this section again I hope to tackle some previously undocumented font variations as well as clear zoomed in photos of the actual font's beneath each baggie type
ESB-a - both 1st & 2nd issue as well as alternate font colour on the 2nd issue type shown above - soft bag heat sealed
Close up of all 3 side by side
ESB-a - 1st & 2nd issues side by side - 1st issue on the right
Close up of them side by side, this time 1st issue on the left
2nd issue - both font colours shown light blue on left dark blue on right
ESB-a - 1st issue font
ESB-a - 2nd issue (Light blue) font
ESB-a - 2nd issue (dark blue) font
ESB-b - only know to have existed in the Special offer (1st issue bounty hunters) Darth Vader collectors case ( IG88 / Bossk / Fett ) - soft bag heat sealed
ESB-b - font close up
ESB-c - above showing both font types (large & small) the small font would seem to be the earlier issue, Small font on the left - crisp bag tape sealed
ESB-c - 1st issue Small font zoom
ESB-c - 2nd issue Large font zoom
ESB-d - pretty much identical to ESB-c large font version but heat sealed rather than taped - crisp bag heat sealed
ESB-d - Font zoom
ESB-e - Kenner / General Mills logo - Soft bag heat sealed
ESB-e - Font zoom
ESB-f - pretty much just a vertical rather than horizontal version of the ESB-a shown above, Soft bag heat sealed
ESB-f - font zoom
ESB-g - Both font types shown above - V1 & V2, the V1 has Chunky text & the kenner box shows on the right hand side of the Made in China text, the V2 Has thin text & the Kenner box shows to the left of the Made in China text, or has on all examples I have seen of each style to date. both V1 & V2 - Soft bag heat sealed
ESB-g - V1
ESB-g - V2
ESB-h baggies all shown above as they are classed to date, I am going to split these all up in to defined classification to avoid future confusion (I hope)
ESB-h- the regular style ESB-h we all familiar with, the most commonly substitute baggie used in MP's ( soft bag single heat seal )
ESB-h- regular - variation???? ( soft bag single heat seal ), just to throw things out of whack a little ( oh boy ), I have noted there is also a slightly smaller version of this baggie type, in fact so small the figures are laid in the baggie diagonally as they will not fit vertically, at this time I am unclear as to if this is indeed a Kenner issued baggie at all or some obscure Euro possibly meccano?? baggie as yet unclassified, though could also just as easily be a standard ESB-h just smaller, I only have 2 available to cross check with so bit of a shot in the dark really - both the ones I have are no coo variants, hence my thinking they "could be" euro rather then kenner, but I thought this info should really be covered.
Note this smaller version has not been included in the group shot line up above till further investigation has been done -
if you have one like this I would like to hear from you
ESB-i - ( Ex ESB-h - extra wide baggie ) now this one is about twice the size of a regular ESB-h baggie, they come with the weapons in a bit of sellotape, sometimes with the weapons taped to the body of the figure, it is
speculated that these were offered to the employees of kenner as a cheap way to buy the figures & it has been suggested they were offered on "dollar tables" in the staff shop, though this baggie is not regarded by most as a general release bag offered to the general public, some have turned up from sealed store multi packs. ( soft bag single heat seal )
Overstock / shipping case / substitute baggies - more details & new classifications below, but again baggies that have to date been lumped under the ESB-h umbrella heading
ESB-j - ( Ex ESB-h 500 figure shipping case overstock baggie ) again one that has been found in sealed multi packs, assumed as a substitute for the regular baggie offered - soft bag twin heat seal
ESB-k - (Ex ESB-h type ) - very similar to the ESB-j but differing heat seals (came direct from Bill Wills - Co Author of the old SWCA baggie guide), a very rare bag & one I am TBH a little lost as to where is was offered if indeed it was ever offered on general sale, though it is more likely to have been one never intended for sale, but rather one used either internally as a sample or for opening & carding - Soft bag twin heat seal