The Star Wars Super Collector's Wish Book [Englisch] [Gebundene Ausgabe]

Beginning with this edition, the title which had formerly been constricted into 464 pages, containing Star Wars collectibles and toys from all over the face of the planet has been set free!

The Star Wars Super Collector's Wish Book is now a 2 volume set! This is Volume 1 "General Merchandise" (464 pages) and it's got all of the goods you've come to expect from the series. By moving the toys into a book of their own, space has been freed up to continue adding and exploring the thousands of collectibles and products that made Star Wars into the sprawling merchandise empire it is today.

Many photos which had been getting increasingly smaller before the book's expansion have been re-shot for better clarity, and thousands more added. This is finally the book format that most collectors have been demanding. Many finishing touches have been added thanks to the readers who have sent in requests, detailed information, and suggestions / feedback.

For Toy collectors, volume 2 is coming! The 100+ pages of toys from the previous all-inclusive '5th edition' (plus a couple of years worth of new finds!) have been given their very own full-sized hardcover book of 448 pages.

In a time when many other publishers are scaling back, Schiffer Publishing, Ltd. is forging ahead giving Star Wars fans and collectors not one, but two great reasons to go to their bookshelf! Choose the book that fits your interest or pick them both up to have it all.

Whether you are a die hard collector, or new to the hobby, this book should be an essential part of your collection. I've been collecting all aspects of Star Wars for over 25 years, and every time I open this book, I see something new I didn't know existed. From the earliest vintage collectibles, to the newest Prequel and Clone Wars collectibles, this book has it covered. I don't go to a convention or flea market without bringing this book along.

First off, I own all 6 (soon to be 7) volumes of the Super Collector's Wish Book. Each one has expanded and improved upon the previous editions, and each volume strives to include as many new pictures as possible. It even references the most recent volume (and page) that a picture does appear in, if not in this one. To help clear up what Amazon does not tell you, after volume 5, the book switched to a new publisher, Schiffer, who allowed the book to double in size, and be split into two volumes. This is the first volume, which focuses on all the non-toy collectibles. The second volume (book 7) will be out in 2012 and will focus solely on toys of all sorts. By splitting it up into two volumes, this has allowed for more color pictures, that are larger in size.

What's great about this is it has freed up more room to show more pictures of the collectibles out there. Whereas previous versions had shown a sampling of items or a checklist, this volume can sometimes show photos of entire sets of items. A great example is vintage plastic cups from 7-11 and other convenience stores. The previous book only had room to show photos of 6 of these cups. This latest volume shows 43 of them. And that's what makes the difference...being able to see the product. We can all read a checklist...but having a photo reference goes a long way in identifying what you have...or what you need to complete your set.

Amazon unfortunately carries forward reviews from previous editions, which do not necessarily apply anymore. Some of them refer to a numbering system used in the earlier books that was dropped years ago. The impossible task of assigning a unique number to every item in the book is no longer used. Now, the only items numbered are those that have a photo, so you can match the item to the photo. The secondary purpose of this book, after cataloging all the collectibles, is to act as a price guide. There is always room for debate on prices. Prices in this book are based on original retail price, and the current going rate in auctions and trades for mint in package items. Can you pick up an item for less than listed in this book....absolutely! Can you pay more than what is listed...you sure can. Most of the prices in here are a good sounding board to make your own decision from. As a buyer or seller, you should factor in quality, condition, availability, and demand for an item when negotiating a price.

I highly recommend this book to anyone who collects Star Wars. If you are only interested in Star Wars toys, you should pick up the Toy volume coming out next year. Or, if you can't wait, pick up Volume 5, which has both Toys and General Merchandise in it. However, this General Merchandise volume contains a wealth of information no collector should pass up.

The Super Collector's Wishbook truly lives up to it's title. It is a Wish Book. With the thousands of items I have in my collection already, I can always open this book and find something new that I want to collect.

To say that "The Star Wars Super Collector's Wishbook" is a must-have for collectors of Star Wars memorabilia in any form is an understatement at best. Mr. Carlton acts as the cartographer for the vast universe of Star Wars collectibles from around the world. With over 30 years accumulation of collectibles that is a lot of ground to cover.

The best part about this book is that it is an ideal starting point even if you don't already own one or more of the previous five editions. This one is, of course, the most up to date given the gaps of two or more years between editions, which makes it ideal as your first or your latest volume in the series. The comprehensive nature of this book is staggering and the categories are logically arranged so you can find what you are seeking and its most recent value. If you collect all things Star Wars or just a specific type of licensed product you can find it within these pages. That is to say, except for action figures and toys.

While this may seem like a grave oversight it is in fact the best possible approach. With the ever-expanding volume of collectibles in every category it was decided to split what had always been one book (in the first through fifth editions) covering everything into two books, thereby not diminishing the number of color photos of as many products as space allows. As I understand it, the all toy edition will be provided to us, the Star Wars hungry collectors out there, later this year.

Each edition of this book has thousands of photographs, the greater percentage of which were actually taken by the author, his family, and friends. This is not your typical Star Wars guide book thrown together from manufacturer's advertizing photos. This is a true labor of love from a fellow collector. And what further sets this series apart is the addition in the back of feature articles written by real fans and collectors invited by the author to contribute their spin on Star Wars fandom!

So if you are a casual collector or a "super collector" you should really have this book on your shelf. It is without a doubt the most important Star Wars item in any collection. This and its upcoming companion volume chock full of toys!