These Star Wars: A New Hope character erasers were manufactured in the United Kingdom by Helix Stationery, but were very common and popular in New Zealand in the late ’70s (check out our previous article on the 1977 Helix Star Wars Coloured Pencils). The graphics were simple… and occasionally heavily interpreted (check out Darth Vader’s funky chest box, complete with speedometer, water temperature, and engine warning lights) – nevertheless, they have become equally popular and sought-after collectibles 40+ years later.

I had a few of these as a child… some were actively used, and used up. I’ve re-collected them up over the years – a process that involved the purchase of several bulk lots and the acquisition of a few doubles. The erasers actually came in a couple of different thicknesses. I eventually aim to get full sets of both the thinner and the thicker versions of each character.

There were a lot of other stationery items from Helix that came out down under. I’m really happy to have these nostalgic pieces alongside the other tools of my childhood, like the maths set and coloured pencils.

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A number of different Star Wars-themed stationery items from UK company Helix International were available in New Zealand in the late ’70s (mainly 1978). Over time, a few items or sets in particular have become quite rare and sought after, particularly if still in an unused state. This set of 12 coloured pencils, for instance, has been seen to fetch between NZ$500-900 if in completed mint condition.

Each pencil in the set bears the Star Wars logo in a gold print, as well as the iconic “May the force be with you” phrase, Helix International branding, and a Twentieth Century Fox 1977 copyright imprint.

A number of the Helix International products shared common design elements, such as the red and yellow Star Wars logo, and the dark blue starscape behind the classic heroes and villain characters. I really like the overall aesthetics of these items, and combined with the nostalgia of owning a number of these during my early school years, consider them amongst my favourite vintage collectibles.

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