As a collector since 1977, I've always hoped someone would put together a comprehensive collectibles guide that lists all -- or just about all -- the items created around the world since the first film’s debut. I think we’ve finally got that with Gus and Duncan’s Comprehensive Guide, and the hobby owes a great debt of gratitude to the authors for their tireless devotion to all things Star Wars.
For years, most of us have clung to the old Tomart guide which came out in the early ‘90s, which, in its day, was essentially the bible for Star Wars collectors, remaining a fixture on our shelves for nearly two decades. Gus and Duncan’s new guide easily continues the tradition of that benchmark work by Sansweet, upgrading and expanding the listings to include all the prequel films and so much more -- including scores of fan-produced collectibles, an area of interest I personally find fascinating.
One’s first impression of this book is its sheer size and weight -- you know this thing represents a monumental achievement just by holding it. Once opened, the amount of imagery crammed into the listings is unbelievable. The time it must have taken to shoot the thousands of items depicted can’t even be imagined.
As an editor for Lucas Online, I find myself needing a great many resources for my research, and have often turned to Gus and Duncan’s Star Wars Collector’s Archive (theswca.com) website for information on the vague, unexplored areas of the hobby. This book’s got all that and more -- it’s easily going to be one of the most utilized research tools here at work and at home.
If you’re a diehard Star Wars collector, or even someone new to the hobby, this book is an absolute essential. It’s unprecedented, and will likely be unmatched in the foreseeable future. I have no doubt it will inherit the distinction of “bible” among Star Wars collectors within a few months of its release, and hope we’ll see more updated volumes in the future.
