|
This was the
first and most valuable of all the
"Limited Edition" Star Trek figures
that have been produced by Playmates.
This figure came out in 1995 and was
one of three planned limited editions
for that year. These figures were to be
mixed into the regular assortments of
figures for distribution. While
Playmates had revealed that there would
be three such figures, no official
indication was given prior to the
release of the figures which ones would
be in short supply. When this figure
was released it bore a sticker stating
"NEW - Only 1701 released! - LIMITED
EDITION." The number 1701, which should
be significant to all Star Trek geeks,
was chosen for obvious reasons.
Unfortunately, this incredibly small
number of figures came nowhere near to
meeting consumer demand and incensed
many collectors who now found it nearly
impossible to have a complete
collection. The second LE for the year,
Tasha Yar from "Yesterday's
Enterprise," was also limited to 1701
and was met with much of the same
hostility. By the time the third LE,
Lt. Barclay from "Projections," was
released, Playmates had attempted to
smooth things over by upping the
production run of the figure to 3000
pieces, but this did little to quell
collector griping. Playmates has since
kept limited figures in the 10,000
piece range, which seems sufficient to
satisfy the hard-core collecting
community. The increased focus on
smaller production run figures does
seem to coincide with the overall
decline in popularity of the 4.5" Star
Trek figures. Hmmm... My figure was
purchased at the K-Mart in Oelwein,
Iowa. Yes, I was amazed too. Boom;
right there on the peg with everything
else. $5.97!
This figure
came in the standard packaging of the
time (except for the sticker). None of
the "1701" figures, as they are
collectively known (even Barclay),
included a trading card or any other
pack-in. Unopened, this figure will now
fetch an average of $400.00 on the
secondary market, although at its peak
it sold for over $1,000.00. Opened and
intact, the figure will average
considerably less. The price guide I
have lists no "loose" price presumably
because all of the geeks like myself
are too much in awe to actually open
this toy. Jean-Luc Picard in his "Wrath
of Khan" style uniform from "Tapestry"
features articulation at the neck,
shoulders and hips, not that this
matters much when it's in the package.
This figure should not be confused with
the later Toyfare exclusive Picard from
"Tapestry" figure which features Picard
in his alternate-future science officer
uniform.
In spite of
being an expensive and hard-to-find
little piece of plastic, this figure is
completely recycled from previously
created parts. Apparently creating new
molds for short production run figures
is beneath Playmates. The head is the
standard Picard head while the body is
a retread of the "Generations" Kirk
(hence the crappy articulation).
Consequently, the good Captain also
appears to have gained a little weight.
The rank pin on the right shoulder has
been changed to that of an ensign, the
"years of service" bars on the left
sleeve cuff have been removed and the
collar has been smoothed to resemble
the uniform worn by Picard in the
episode. The "1701" figures have since
been re-released as a set in another
effort to appease collectors who missed
out the first time around. These
re-released figures are identical to
the carded versions except that they
are not individually numbered on the
foot. The "1701 set" Picard also lacks
the black "command" insignia detail on
his belt buckle and Starfleet pin that
appears on the original-issue
figure.
|
