Thundercats Tongue-a-Saurus, £2300 at Ryedale Auctioneers.
The cartoons began in 1985 through the Rankin/Bass production company, but the toys launched actually earlier that same year in conjunction with LJN Toys, a US company that operated from 1970-95.
Masters of the Universe and Star Wars showed the potential huge interest out there for toys and merchandise action figures and accessories.
The Thundercats versions were relatively short lasting compared to some other brands - just three years - but in three waves of releases. The animated series kept going until 1989.
The toys are in demand from collectors today as a lot sold at Ryedale Auctioneers (27% buyer’s premium) underlines.
An LJN Toys Tongue-A-Saurus monster from 1987 (part of the third wave of production), with original box, was described by the North Yorkshire saleroom as in “excellent overall condition except one mid tongue section is partially snapped, please refer to photos. Box good for age with attached front shop sticker and small tear to rear.”
Third-wave toys were produced in lower numbers so have an intrinsic rarity value anyway but Tongue-A-Saurus - which appeared in just a single episode of the cartoon - is thought to be the hardest Thundercats toy to find overall and highly sought after.
The buyer on February 16 was clearly not the only bidder interested - this monster was snapped up for £2300 hammer against a £300-500 estimate.
The box had an ‘Extra Value’ label indicating an action figure was also included (for the monster’s tongue to reach out and grab - worked by turning a handle) but this was not present with the lot.
A loose verison of Tongue-A-Saurus is reported to have sold on eBay for $4050 in August 2021.
