A stretch toy of Marvel's The Hulk has sold for £3,900 at auction, setting a new UK record for a figure of its kind. The rare collectible was described as one of the "rarest stretch toys in existence" by Excalibur Auctions.
The figure appears to be one of only 30 known examples of the original Hulk stretch figure from 1979 still in existence. It was sold to a private collector on Saturday at the Excalibur Auctions Vintage Toys, Diecast Models & Model Railways auction.
Record-breaking sale exceeds estimates
Originally estimated between £3,000 and £5,000, the final sale price set a new UK auction record. Jonathan Torode from Excalibur Auctions said the auction house was excited to offer this rare piece of nostalgia.
"We saw competitive bidding on the phones and internet, with it finally winning out to a UK private collector, where we hope it will be as cherished by its new owner as much as it has been by its previous one," Torode said.
Marvel character's comic book origins
The character the toy is based on was created by American comic book writer and producer Stan Lee and comic artist Jack Kirby. The Hulk appeared in comic form for the first time in May 1962 under the Marvel name.
He was later portrayed across TV, film, cartoon and video games as The Incredible Hulk - the alter ego of physicist Dr Bruce Banner. Banner transformed into the superhero when he was angry or under extreme stress.
Hollywood portrayals across decades
A range of actors have since portrayed the character over the years, including Eric Bana in The Hulk (2003), Edward Norton in The Incredible Hulk (2008) and Mark Ruffalo in The Avengers (2012). The toy was described as being in "mint" condition after being kept out of the light, upright, and in its original packaging over the years.
The Hulk figure also came with its original instructions and has never been offered for sale since it was bought in 1979, according to the auction house. Produced by renowned toymaker Denys Fisher (1918-2002), the figure came directly from its original owner who had begged his mother for one as a child.
Stretch Armstrong connection revealed
It was originally part of Kenner's "Stretch Armstrong" line and was later licensed under Denys Fisher in the UK. Fisher, who developed the Spirograph, grew up in the Leeds area and later lived in Dumfries and Cumbria.
The Hulk stretch figure was filled with corn syrup to enable it to stretch and was made using the same latex and gel moulds as those used for the Stretch Armstrong figure. However, its green skin colouring, the Hulk head and the Marvel branding set it apart from the Stretch Armstrong toy.
Limited UK manufacturing and distribution
Manufactured in Thorp Arch, Wetherby, the toy was sold in limited quantities only in the UK. It was available through select mail order catalogues and a handful of shops, making it particularly rare among collectors today.
(PA/London) Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.
