Best Example in the Hobby
Incomparable first-release Snake Mountain available for the very first time. Snake Mountain playsets in first-release form are exceedingly rare and are considered a grail item amongst high-end MOTU collectors. Mattel recognized very early on that Snake Mountain was a bit too dark for children. Initially, the front of the box read “I am the Spirit of Snake Mountain”. This was quickly amended to “I am the Voice of Snake Mountain”. Additionally, the yellow burst in the bottom corner initially read “Voice of Evil”. This was changed to “Voice of Snake Mountain”. A factory sealed first-release “dark” version of Snake Mountain is exceedingly rare in comparison to the later “kid friendly” release.
Additionally, Snake Mountain has become a “ghost” at the elite AFA 85 grade level – none are graded higher than 85. In fact, an AFA 85 has not surfaced (first or second release) in over a decade. As such, the AFA 85 Snake Mountain playset is a glaring omission in even the most prestigious high-grade MOTU collections.
We are privileged to present the very best example in the hobby. It has been in the private collection of our consignor for nearly two decades. Originally displayed as a raw piece in his collection, he eventually sent it in to AFA for grading almost 14 years ago and they assigned it an unsurpassed “85”. To date, it is the only confirmed AFA 85 in first-release form (there are 5 second-release examples in AFA 85 – none higher).
Stunning throughout, it’s easily the best example we have seen. The color on the all-important front panel is bright and vibrant. Every panel is exceptionally clean. No price tag sticker. A bit of edgewear is the most notable imperfection. There is also a vertical wrinkle in the artwork near the center but this is considered factory quality control and does not affect grade. Each end is factory sealed. A glorious piece, the very best in the hobby.
With the popularity of Skeletor at an all-time high, and the $209,410 record breaking sale of the Castle Grayskull playset just last summer, hobbyists will have a close eye on this special piece as we approach June 28th.
Encapsulated by AFA 85, #16786636
For this listing, LCG Auctions is offering qualified individuals a 90 day time payment plan with a 30% non-refundable deposit due within two weeks after the close of the auction. If you are interested in taking advantage of this offer, please contact us at [email protected] before bidding.
Est. $20,000 - $40,000