Star Trek Roddenberry Action Figure w/Kirk in Prototype Box Never Released RARE

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There are rare Star Trek collectibles...

Then there are collectibles that were never released at all.

And then there are what I consider to be one of the most significant Star Trek action figure discoveries a collector could hope to own — a one-of-a-kind pre-production prototype of the legendary Gene Roddenberry & Captain Kirk Gift Set created by Palisades Toys for Star Trek's 35th Anniversary.

1999 - Playmates license agreement with Star Trek ends, Palisades and Art Asylum are in a battle offerding for the rights.

This was intended to become Palisades inaugural Star Trek collectible. The planned release featured an all-new Captain Kirk with the iconic captain's chair alongside the first-ever Gene Roddenberry action figure, celebrating the creator of Star Trek himself.

Collectors were asked to reserve the set using a mail-in preorder program, and the release was announced as a limited edition of approximately 35,000 individually numbered sets.ONLY 24 Prototypes (in the final box version) were completed, advertisements were published, and preorder solicitations were distributed—but the project was ultimately cancelled before production after major retailers declined to support the release. Palisades would never produce another Star Trek action figure line, and the public never got to own a Gene Roddenberry action figure.

As a result, the Gene Roddenberry figure became one of the most famous "what could have been" collectibles in Star Trek history, Palisades lost the offer to take over where Playmates left off and Art Asylum ultimately won the offer.

What makes this example extraordinary is that it is NOT one of the 24 finished sample sets occasionally seen in collector circles.

This is the actual prototype presentation piece retained by one of the lead employees responsible for the project.

According to the original owner, employees assembling prototypes would often create packaging using whatever materials were available at the time. As a result, this box differs from the intended production packaging while still utilizing the same overall structural design.

The clear plastic inner tray...

The side viewing windows...

The signature front swing-open display door...

...are all present, but the artwork and construction represent an authentic pre-production packaging mock-up that exists nowhere else.

Unlike the finalized production mockups, this packaging is completely unique.

There is only one.

Many collectibles become rarer with time.

Prototype collectibles are different.

There is no higher version to pursue.

There is no factory-sealed example waiting to be found.

There is no higher grade.

This prototype represents the earliest physical realization of what many Star Trek action figure collectors consider the most desirable unreleased figure ever conceived - a Gene Roddenberry figure.

Owning the production sample is extraordinary.

Owning the prototype used during development places this piece in an entirely different category.

Included are both highly articulated figures:

• Gene Roddenberry
• Captain James T. Kirk

Captain Kirk includes:

• Captain's Chair
• Hand Phaser
• Hinged Communicator

Both figures feature approximately 16 points of articulation with outstanding sculpting that was years ahead of most Star Trek figures available at the time.

Standing roughly 6–7 inches tall, they display beautifully alongside Diamond Select and Art Asylum collections. In fact, this was the prototype used to offer for Star Trek Licencing after Playmates ended. Palisades lost the offer to Art Asylum - and you know the rest.

This is one of those collectibles that many Star Trek figure collectors know about—but very few have ever actually seen in person. See this excerpt from an article on StarTrek.com, quoting Palisades Exec, Ken Lilly:

"Palisades had two cases of 12 finalized boxed sets produced by a sample team. These pieces are as close as one can get to owning the actual product, with painted sculpts, accessories, and final packaging all present. Though incredibly rare and usually a bit on the pricey side, prototypes from this set are a great piece of “lost” Trek toy history. And even after all these years, the Palisades Gene Roddenberry is the only known attempt at producing a figure of the “Great Bird of the Galaxy."

This platform doesn't allow me to link here, but find the article - it is fantastic. It goes on to say how Palisades missed a deadline waiting for Shatner's team to approve the head sculpt which ultimately resulted in the project being canceled and Art Asylum / Diamond Select winning the offer to carry Star Trek action figures after Playmates license had expired.

Finished examples (of the 24) surface only on rare occasions, with only a very small number (2) publicly documented over the years. The prototype offered here is in an entirely different category, representing a one-of-one pre-production survivor obtained directly from the Palisades/Toy Plus employee who retained it after the project was cancelled.

For serious Star Trek collectors, opportunities like this may come only once.

This incredibly rare Star Trek 35th Anniversary prototype features a direct, unbroken lineage back to the original manufacturing loop. It was sourced directly from the private archive of a former Account Executive for Toy Plus Consultants Ltd. who managed accounts during this specific production era.

Palisades designed it, Toy Plus made it.
Toy Plus Consultants Ltd. was the official engineering, brokerage, and logistical liaison between Palisades Toys and the manufacturing factories in China. As an executive at the firm, this individual personally handled physical engineering samples sent directly from the overseas factories.

The Story of the Box
Per the original Toy Plus executive, this box is a functional Packaging Mockup / Factory Structural Sample. It was constructed using scrap cardboard print from entirely different production lines at the factory. This was standard industry practice used to test the physical dimensions, structural rigidity, and plastic tray fitting of the box without printing unauthorized, copyrighted Star Trek branding before final legal sign-offs. It possesses the exact planned dimensions for the final retail product, but features "scrap" printing, making it a likely 1-of-1 historical artifact.

The Figures
Unlike early monocolor resin sculpts, these figures are fully painted Sales Samples / Engineering Pilots. They were completely decorated by the factory sample team to show what the mass-produced item would look like, used by Toy Plus and Palisades to pitch the line to major retail buyers before the project was ultimately prototype display box

Welcome toTheMostToys

I am a collector first. I buy and sell to fund and refine my personal Star Trek collection. If I am letting something go, it is either a duplicate or time for it to find a new home.

I list new items regularly, including rare and hard-to-find pieces. Save the store and check back often.

Select items from my personal collection (not for sale) include:

• Screen-matched Horga'hn (Captain?s Holiday)

• Chateau Picard desk & chair (ST: Picard S1)

• Cast + Crew used Scripts including Annotations of Ships by notable VFX crew

• Signed Gene Roddenberry Correspondence discussing cancelation and hatred for NBC

  
  

NOTE- SHIPPING IS HIGH DUE TO INSURANCE COST.

Your collectible will be packed with the same care I'd expect as a buyer.

• Fast shipping - usually next business day (sometimes second)

• Protective padding/foam used when needed (I assume every package will double as a soccer ball)

• Double-boxing for collectible packaging when appropriate (only way to account for missing styrofoam)

• When appropriate, I use waterproof bags to protect from weather exposure

I've seen how easily collectibles can be damaged - I take extra steps to make sure yours arrives safely.

• Please do NOT make Offers/Counteroffers if you are not sure if you're going to commit to pay. When you do not pay, the seller has many limitations on working with other buyers and modifying the sale. You're basically locking up the listing while you contemplate following through with a commitment you made when you made/accepted the offer.

• I do NOT accept returns if you changed your mind.

• I DO accept returns if I made a mistake and item is not as described. I stand behind my listings and always make it right.

• I do NOT accept returns because shipping is delayed. This happens from time to time and I've had a few go over 4 weeks late. However, NO online sellers on any platform will give a return to new customer (as we all are), nor most existing customers, if the item was not yet dropped off with a carrier for returns. Otherwise, the seller is out the money AND the item. I will do my best to work with the carrier to get your item delivered, and then work with you if the item is not as described. So please - lets work together. Filing a return request with will NOT get you anywhere, as they go by the same policy, i.e., hands are tied until delivery. What it does do, is freeze my funds thus causing issues on my end.

• Please review photos and descriptions carefully and ask questions if needed

• Fair offers welcome, and serious buyers appreciated. If your offer is declined, please have the courtesy to NOT message me asking for a lower price. I have a day job and must slip away to answer your question immediately.

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