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Mr Palitoy's Cardback Guide |
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  The first release of figures for the Empire Strikes Back added 10 new figures to the existing 20 give rise to the 30A card. Only 10 figures were released on this card. It features the Empire Strikes Back logo on the front of the card and a mid-size Palitoy logo between the size of the 20-back and 12-back logos but more to the centre of the card. There is another card variation with 30 figures listed on the back which has a larger Palitoy logo on the front like the 12-back which is known as a 30B. The logo size is how they are told apart. This card also features the letters TM on the K of the Empire Strikes Back logo. This is absent on the 30B card and onwards. The back of the card shows the 10 new figures above the existing 20 figures. Most of the new figures shown are prototypes painted by hand and are a little different from the figures that were released. The bottom of the card shows the Palitoy Imperial Troop Transporter vehicle and the Palitoy Droid Factory playset. The Imperial Troop Transporter was never seen in any of the films and was made up for the toy market. This card variation, and all card variations up until 30B were manufactured in Hong Kong at the Kader Industries factory by the Palitoy (Far East) Company Ltd and then shipped back assembled to the Coalville factory in the UK. The bottom right hand corner has no writing on the white border, unlike the 30B which has Made in Hong Kong written there. This is the other common way to tell 30A and 30B cards apart. It looks like this writing was omitted on this card variation, and corrected on the 30B variation. Two of the figures released on this card featured pictures on the front of the card that were only used on this card variation. Leia Organa Bespin Gown features an upper body shot of Leia rather than the usual full body shot, though this reverted back on the Tri-Logo release of this figure. Luke Skywalker Bespin Outfit features a full body shot of Luke rather than the usual gun drawn head and upper body shot used for the rest of the card variations. The blond hair version of Luke Skywalker Bespin Outfit appeared on this card.  Single stemmed bubbles with a footplate were used on all figures on this card variation.  It is possible to collect all 10 figures MOC and at least one Palitoy collector has managed to do this. These figures are all rare and expensive MOC and it is a great achievement to have done this.  |
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