1st Generation

The 1st generation of carded bootlegs started to appear in the mid 1980’s, collectors started to notice these in the late 1980’s to early 1990’s. There were 20 different figures released as part of the 1st generation of carded bootlegs. They appeared on rather plain cardbacks featuring a Y-Wing illustration inside of a rather cheesy explosion. In order to keep costs low one cardback lacking a name plate was made with only a difference in color adding any variety. The cards come with backgrounds printed in three colors red, and two shades of blue, and the only text on them were the Polish equivalents of Star Wars, Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi. The text actually translates into english as Star Wars, Empire Counter Attacks, and Return of the Jedi. The cardbacks are not printed on the back but are stamped at the factory. According to a Polish contact it says:
 Company name: "Elektrospoldzielnia"
City: Gdynia
Street: 10 Lutego 33
Price of figure: 140,- zl
I did some research into money conversion and, believe it or not, 140, zloty ('zwa-tee') in pre-1995 Polish money conversion is roughly .04 USD.

The figures were held to the cardbacks in one of two ways; small vinyl bags or bubbles. The vinyl bags appear to be the first of the methods used while later cardbacks had the inclusion of a bubble. It is unclear why the switch was made to a more expensive method but my guess would be that the bags were so cheap they were breaking open before they were sold. The bubbles were also cheap and prone to denting and cracking. They were never glued to the cardbacks, 2 staples are all that hold them on. For years it was thought that these bootlegs did not come with weapons. However, according to one of bootleg collector Kim Zoll’s contacts, the 1st generation of carded bootlegs came with weapons. The lightsabers, pistols, blasters etc. were attached to another card in a small bag. Surviving carded bootlegs are few and far between and unfortunately none of these weapon bags have surfaced. A similar style 2nd generation weapon bag has surfaced though and I can only assume it was a similarly styled piece but on one of the 1st Generation cardbacks.

In another attempt to keep costs low the bootleggers used a uniform set of limbs for almost all of the figures. In fact 16 of the 20 figures all share the limbs of a Biker Scout. Of the remaining 4 figures 3 of them; Pruneface Weequay, and Barada, have Tie Pilot limbs, and Leia is almost always the only one to shown up with AT-AT Driver limbs. There’s been one Zuckuss to also show up with AT-AT Driver limbs as well as one Death Star Gunner and two ATST Drivers to show up with Tie Pilot limbs just proving once again how you never know what will turn up.

Boba Fett has shown up carded with the most frequency and both carded and loose with the most variety.

Biker Scout Limbs
(click thumbnails to enlarge)

Character

Carded

Loose

Boba Fett
o

Darth Vader
o
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

Biker Scout
o
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

Stormtrooper
o

 
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

Hoth Rebel Soldier
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

Tie Fighter Pilot
o
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

Luke
(X-Wing)
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

Hoth Trooper
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

AT-AT Driver

AT-ST Driver
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

Han Hoth
o
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

Zuckuss
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

AT-AT Commander
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

Death Star Gunner
o

Lando General
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

AT-AT Driver Limbs
(click thumbnails to enlarge)

Character

Carded

Loose

Princess Leia

Zuckuss
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

Tie Pilot Limbs
(click thumbnails to enlarge)

Character

Carded

Loose

AT-ST Driver
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

Death Star Gunner
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

Nien Nunb

Prune Face

Weequay
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

Barada
o
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

Accessories

Weapons
IMAGE NOT AVAILABLE

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