Queretaro resident Luis Villagomez has been a Star Wars collector since 1994, and has amassed an impressive collection of vintage merchandise from around the world, including his homeland of Mexico. More specifically, Luis collects vintage Vader, and several of the pieces in his collection have rarely been seen by even the most advanced members of the hobby.
I asked Luis a few questions about his Star Wars collection, and his experience as a collector living in Mexico:
What memories do you have of the first time you saw a Star Wars movie in Mexico?
I saw Star Wars for the first time in December of 1980 (The Empire Strikes Back). It's a really funny story because I actually escaped from my home with my uncle (who was just two years older than me) to watch the movie, and because we were so young we didn't know what bus to take to get us to the movie theatre. So we just took the first bus we saw, which dropped us off about seven miles away from the theatre, so we just walked the rest of the way. We finally arrived to see the scene when Vader tells Luke he is his father in a theatre full of people literally standing in the aisles.
Have there been any particular challenges as a collector in Mexico? If you were collecting before the internet, I imagine it may have been difficult connecting with collectors outside your country.
Well, I guess the first challenge in the beginning was the economy, because Mexico suffers really high and low economic shifts. Second, in the early '90s, the collecting culture was pretty limited, and of course the internet wasn't very popular yet. The main reason I started to get more deeply into collecting was Steve Sansweet, who visited Mexico a couple of times.
You've got a Vader focus -- can you discuss why you've chosen this area of collecting? (Check out the slideshow at right for a look at Luis' Vader collection)
It is for many reasons, but I guess my main reason is because when I was a kid, it was the figure I couldn't ever get. I come from a really humble family and my mother didn't have money to buy stuff like that. I had maybe just four figures in all my childhood, and every time we went to buy them, the main characters were already sold out. The second reason is because (to me) he is the real hero. He changes everything and gives his life for his son.
I've never actually seen some of the rare variations in your collection. What have been the most challenging to track down?
That is a hard question. I'm still looking for some stuff, but maybe my most important variation, and I think it is one of the most difficult to find, is the Lili Ledy carded figure. Of course, this is one of my favorite pieces because I am Mexican.
Break down your Vader collection for us -- how many figures, models, etc.?
I have never counted my collection before, but I have around 85 carded Vaders, 9 Darth Vader TIE fighters for the action figures, 15 model kits, 10 Vader figure cases, 5 diecast Vader TIE fighters, and a lot of miscellaneous pieces like masks, shampoos, etc.
Do you collect any of the Star Wars products produced exclusively in Mexico? Do you have a favorite?
I just collect vintage stuff. I guess my Mexican favorites are my carded Lili Ledy 3 3/4 figure, my Lili Ledy 12-inch dolls, and my life-size Darth Vader lightsaber made in Mexico.
You can see more of Luis' expansive Vader collection here. Also, check back later this week when we profile another Star Wars collector from Mexico who has taken on the task of reconstructing the film saga's history south of the border. For more Cinco de Mayo-related coverage, see this story here.
