In 1985 the company "Elektrospóldzielnia" in Gdynia, Poland began to produce their line of articulated Star Wars figures. Unlike other Polish offerings that consisted of loose or bagged figures directly cast from licensed Kenner figures, theirs while still true to the scale of Kenner figures were unique sculpts and were offered carded. The cards are generic (as in uniform and not character specific) and listed all 3 movies in Polish:GWIEZDNE WOJNY, IMPERIUM , POWRÓT JEDI, along with a Y wing blasting thru an explosion in space.The bubbles were stapled to the card which came in 3 main color variants : Style 1: Logo in blue,orange and white w. blue space scene, 2:Blue,yellow and white, also w. a blue space scene, and 3 Red, yellow and white with a red space scene.
20 different characters were made and 3 different limb styles were used between them: Biker Scout limbs, Tie Pilot limbs, and a mix of AtAt Driver arms, with a unique leg sculpt for the 3rd style.
Private companies in Soviet controled Poland in the 80s in order to do business had to hide their intent by labeling themselves as craftwork cooperatives in fact the word "'spóldzielnia' " translates into cooperative which they used in their name to show a connection to the communist and government owned companies so they could avoid problems that could arise from a running a private business in such a system.
This line is not only rich in history as they went against the Communist government by making them,they went against copyright laws and trade restrictions that kept Kenner items imported illegally and thus very expensive, keeping them out of the hands of most Polish children who only knew the bootleg figures as part of their Star Wars experience growing up. This line of Polish figures is also a rich and colorful line to collect, full of variations of most figures to keep it interesting.
We know the year that production started on these thanks to a stamp found on the back of the cards:
Here is a look at each figure carded as well as a few loose variations of every figure:
AT-AT Commander:
Carded
Hoth Rebel Soldier
Carded:
Hoth Stormtrooper:
Carded:
Luke X-Wing Pilot:
Carded:
Tie Fighter Pilot:
Carded:
