Jawa Cardback Guide
Jeff Echtenkamp
TABLE OF CONTENTS
STAR WARS
– 20bk Cloth Cape
– 21bk Cloth Cape
THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK
– 21bk Cloth Cape
– 31bk Cloth Cape
– 32bk Cloth Cape
– 41bk Cloth Cape
– 45bk Cloth Cape
– 47bk Cloth Cape
– 48bk Cloth Cape
THE RETURN OF THE JEDI
– 48bk Cloth Cape
– 65bk Cloth Cape
– 77bk Cloth Cape
– 79bk Cloth Cape
TRILOGO
– 70bk Trilogo Cloth Cape
THE POWER OF THE FORCE
– 92bk Cloth Cape
12a VINYL CAPE
The vinyl cape Jawa (aka VCJ) was the first iteration of the Jawa action figure. With the exception of the Toltoys VCJ, he only appeared on Star Wars 12 backs. The bulk of the VCJ’s appear on 12A cardbacks (maybe 90%), and a few are found on 12B. While VCJ’s on 12C’s were rumoured to exist (including 2 with Harbert stickers applied), a true US Kenner 12C Jawa was never documented until recently (2018). As of 2022 I am aware of 3 that exist.
The vinyl cape Jawa was quickly replaced with a cloth cape Jawa, as the small size and cape was viewed as less of a value as compared to other figures in the line. Like the vinyl cape Jawa, the cloth cape came on 12A, 12B and 12C cardbacks. Since the transition happened on the 12A cardback, 12A cloth cape Jawas are extremely difficult to find (even moreso than the Vinyl Cape Jawa).
The 12 Back cloth cape Jawa came with 3 different bubble/tray combinations
Square (R2) Bubble / Yellow Cardboard Tray
Square (R2) Bubble / Plastic Tray
Angled bubble
In addition, a 4th combination has been found on the 12A cloth cape Jawa which uses the square R2 bubble but uses an orange cardboard tray, which is folded like a “Z”. This piece is most likely a transition and sample piece as I’ve only uncovered two.
The 12B cloth cape Jawas are fairly common (as the transition to cloth caped had happened) and exist in all 3 bubble options, in roughly equal numbers.
Square (R2) Bubble / Yellow Cardboard Tray
Square (R2) Bubble / Plastic Tray
Angled Bubble
The 12C cloth cape Jawas are fairly common (as the transition to cloth caped had happened). For some reason only 2 variants have been uncovered on the 12C cardback, with the square bubble/plastic tray not having been documented on a 12C cardback yet.
Square (R2) Bubble / Yellow Cardboard Tray
Angled Bubble
