Star Wars Scrapbook: The Essential Collection

by Stephen J. Sansweet

Imagine you've been a "Star Wars" fan from the very beginning. Way back in C"77, you started collecting everything from "Star Wars" gum wrappers to now-priceless relics like the original preview questionnaire. Even better, you had access to special screenings, actual film sets, and all the behind-the-scenes parties. You'd be just like Stephen Sansweet, the world's foremost "Star Wars" collector. In this magnificent scrapbook, Sansweet has carefully selected and arranged the best of his unparalleled collection, authentically reproduced right down to the bristles on the Luke Skywalker toothbrush. Here are Yoda Christmas cards painted by Ralph McQuarrie himself, early prototypes of logos, invitations still in their envelopes, cutout figures, press releases, stickers, patches, trading cards, press photos, and much, much more. Including Sansweet's anecdotes of the early days and featuring treasures from around the world, this is the ultimate "Star Wars" collectible. To the Official "Star Wars" Web Site
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Genres: Star Wars, Nonfiction

84 pages, Spiral-bound

First published January 1, 1998

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

[Mike · Rating 5 out of 5]

For what it is, this book is crazy fun to flip through. It shows off a lot of odd ball collectibles and also some great stuff from the original trilogy’s production. There are even fun, exact replicas of stuff like old stickers, punch out cards, and an invitation to watch the first screening of Return of the Jedi. Probably not the most information rich Star Wars book you can buy, but it’s big, colorful, and full of tactile joy.

[Andrew Ives · Rating 5 out of 5]

Although this book is rather annoyingly ring-bound, the style, layout and especially the Velcro Darth Vader fastener, make for an attractive read. Many of the pages are quite 'cardboardy' so they turn easily enough, and a few have pull-out items, such as Return of the Jedi tickets, a fan club newsletter, action figure card backs, silvery Japanese stickers and a press-out X-wing model. The pages tell the story of the making of the Star Wars original trilogy from George Lucas' early titles and drafts, the shoots, early press coverage, release, marketing and the sequels, in chronological order, using pieces of ephemera to illustrate the times and eras, from various countries. This includes Kenner figures, obviously, but also rarer items such as Japanese cinema tickets and cards from noodles, Australian Tazos, Finnish Yoda Soda labels, and British ice lolly wrappers. I have a similar book to this for Batman collectors which is larger, more glossy and deluxe, with wonderful photography. However, I think this Star Wars book is slightly more informative, includes more to read, more cinema-related and a little more eclectic. Both are great. Recommended. 4.5/5

[Davide · Rating 5 out of 5]

E' la riproduzione fedele di oggettistica, memorabilia e quant'altro ruota intorno a Star Wars. Tra le chicche, la riproduzione, con tanto di busta, dell'invito alla prima del "Ritorno dello Jedi" ed il kit da ritagliare per farsi la maschera di C-3PO. Imperdibile per gli appassionati! In lingua inglese.

[Punkie · Rating 3 out of 5]

3 1/2 stars
While the contents of the book are great, it's the design of the book that spoils it. Reproductions of collectibles in a spiral bound book? Trying to turn the page without wrinkling or tearing is a task unto itself. Real stickers? Adhesive will usually dry up or turn oily after a while. I've had this book for a long time, and while I really do enjoy looking at it I rarely do because it's a minefield trying not to ruin it.

[Arnav]

nothing.

[Sarah · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is perfect for any star wars fan and with its quirky presentation it is ideal memorbillia