My old SWORA buddy Matt Glasgow, writing over at Star Wars New Zealand, brings us a look at cardbacks from the bottom of the world, highlighting the similarities and differences between there and other parts of the globe.
The cardbacks of vintage Star Wars action figures are a big part of the vintage nostalgia phenomenon, with their bold logos and famous chrome “racetrack” border. These packaging items are, in fact, often seen as collectibles in their own right.
During the early years of Star Wars mini-action figures, specifically 1978-1982, when many licensed Star Wars toys were being bought into the country by Toltoys NZ Ltd (read about the Toltoys company history here) imported figures were sometimes packaged on locally printed cards in kiwi factories.
The printing of the New Zealand cardbacks was presumed to be done using slightly different processes and/or equipment and using slightly different cardboard than their US equivalents, making them quite unique to our country.
It’s a fascinating read, so head on over to Star Wars New Zealand and get learning!
