In the 1970s, Matchbox produced an action figure line called Fighting Furies. One of the more unusual figures in the series was the Ghost of Cap’n Kidd.
As I remember it, the figure was offered as a mail-away in the United States and came in a plain white box. In the UK, however, the Ghost of Cap’n Kidd was available at retail in an elaborate coffin-style package — easily one of the most distinctive packages produced for the Fighting Furies line.
The Ghost of Cap’n Kidd has always been collectible, but complete examples with the ornate UK box have become particularly desirable. I remember examples selling in the late 1990s for roughly $75 to $200, depending on condition and completeness.
About the Ghost of Cap’n Kidd Release
Matchbox, then part of Lesney Products, introduced the Fighting Furies pirate action figure line in the mid-1970s. The original assortment centered on Cap’n Peg Leg and Hook, with the Ghost of Cap’n Kidd joining the line in 1975. Plaid Stallions identifies Kidd as the new Fighting Furies character for that year and describes the original line as a Matchbox/Lesney creation developed by toy-design firm Marvin Glass and Associates. 1
The Ghost of Cap’n Kidd was the third major pirate figure in the series and also one of its most unusual. In the United States, the Ghost was sold through the Sears catalog, while in Europe he was available at retail. Collector references note that the Sears version was packaged much more simply, while the European release received the elaborate coffin-style package shown here. 2 3
The European Ghost of Cap’n Kidd package is arguably as memorable as the figure itself. Designed to resemble a coffin, it features faux wood and metal artwork, an eye-shaped peephole in the front, elaborate printed hinges and hardware, and a red coffin interior. The side of the package prominently advertises the figure’s two principal features: press-action sword fighting and a skeleton that glows in the dark. Plaid Stallions also documents the coffin package and notes that Kidd originally appeared as a Sears mail-order figure before receiving his distinctive retail packaging. 4
Like the other Fighting Furies pirates, the approximately 8½-inch Ghost of Cap’n Kidd incorporated a mechanical action feature. A button on the left side of the body operated the sword-fighting arm. Kidd added the glow-in-the-dark effect, giving the otherwise ghostly figure a skeletal appearance when viewed in darkness after exposure to light. 5
There are also variations in the figure itself. MyMegoLike documents an earlier version molded largely in pale glow-in-the-dark material and a later version using flesh-colored plastic with the luminous skeletal effect applied over it. This is useful to keep in mind when comparing surviving examples, as differences in appearance do not necessarily indicate that a figure has been altered. 6
The release also included a small story and instruction leaflet. Fighting Furies pamphlets generally accompanied the figures and accessory sets, but the Ghost of Cap’n Kidd leaflet is immediately recognizable by its green, black and white printing, rather than the predominantly orange-and-white design associated with other Fighting Furies literature. 7
The combination of a mechanical sword-fighting feature, glow-in-the-dark figure, illustrated coffin, unusual regional packaging and distinctive printed material makes the Ghost of Cap’n Kidd one of the standout releases in the Fighting Furies line — and one of Matchbox’s more memorable action figures of the 1970s.
Ghost of Cap’n Kidd Gallery
Documented eBay Sales
The following auctions provide a historical reference for boxed examples of the Ghost of Cap’n Kidd. They should not be considered a current price guide, but they do illustrate how strongly the figure was already performing on the collector market.
| Date | eBay Reference | Sale Price | Tax (est.) | Shipping | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| November 23, 2012 | 160925678953 | $375.00 | n/a | n/a | $375.00 |
| January 13, 2013 | 121047198796 | $558.00 | n/a | $30.00 | $588.00 |
| December 11, 2016 | 272470890356 | $564.71 | n/a | $18.76 | $583.47 |
| July 1, 2026 | 137464779883 | $450.00 (cracked foot) | $27.00 | $0 | $477.00 |