Star Wars: The Ultimate Action Figure Collection: 35 Years of Characters

by Stephen J. Sansweet

Here at last is the complete and definitive collection of the more than 2,500 Star Wars® action figures produced over the last 35 years. Fans and collectors can finally trace the evolution of each character in toy form from the time of their first appearance through the designs of today, with pages of amazing and inventive variations crafted to tell the stories of Luke Skywalker, Darth Maul, and literally hundreds more. Compiled by Stephen J. Sansweet, owner of the world's largest private collection of Star Wars memorabilia, the book also showcases and details the rare, popular, forgotten, and beloved figures coveted by fans the world over, drawing figures from the feature film, video game, and cartoon realms of the vast Star Wars universe.

Genres: Star Wars, Nonfiction, Reference

352 pages, Paperback

First published October 1, 2012

About the author

Sansweet was born and educated in Philadelphia Pennsylvania. He studied at Temple University from 1962 to 1966, majoring in journalism. Three years after graduating, in 1969, he began work as a reporter at the Wall Street Journal in both Philadelphia and Montreal. He was promoted to deputy bureau chief in 1984, and later the chief of Wall Street Journal's Los Angeles bureau in 1987. In February 1996, he joined Lucasfilm as director of specialty marketing. He is currently director of content management and in charge of fan relations.

Sansweet's collection has also been featured on the History Channel's Boy's Toys special "Private Collections".

Reviews

[Mr. Cody · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of fun, if action figures are your thing. :)

#NoShame

[Luke Milton · Rating 5 out of 5]

For decades now I've had to move my collection of Star Wars action figures from house to house, and you start by putting them all in their own ziplock bags with their own guns and lightsabers and little cantina glasses. Then, by about the third move you just put like three or four in a bag and hope you won't mix up the accessories because you put a jedi next to a tusken raider). Then all subsequent moves you don't even give a crap and suddenly you've got an ewok on your shelf holding a red double bladed lightsaber. What I'm saying is all that stuff I'm carting around like an albatross around my neck for the rest of my life could all go up in a fire and all I would need to replace 90% of it is this wonderful book which is much neater, nicer, and easier to look at, and I don't even think I've dusted it once. Bravo.

[Charlotte · Rating 4 out of 5]

It has some fun comments underneath the figure photos. Kinda wish they would show the back of the figure, I know it wouldn’t be exciting but I’m curious.

It’s literally just pictures of Star Wars toys from the 70s to 2012. It’s also interesting to see how many different versions of your favs there are. Ps there’s a whole spread dedicated to jar jar binks lol. And about 10 pages for obi wan.

[Maxine · Rating 5 out of 5]

Such an awesome edition to any collectors shelf! Filled with so many great figures and so many excellent stories behind some of the most rare and sought after Star Wars figures! A must have for Star Wars collectors!

[Ietrio · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wow! That must have been quite a lot of work! Otherwise it is not really a book, rather a catalogue of the toys.

[Alfred · Rating 5 out of 5]

Perfect for the pre-Disney collector

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wish it had less of those bullshit Prequel/Clone Wars toys, but still....

[Jedi Sunni · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing, one of the greatest books of all-time!