I have a passion for collecting vintage Star Wars merchandise from the late 70's. Action figures, comics, trading cards etc - anything related to the first Star Wars movie. But why only until 1980? It's not that I don't love The Empire Strikes Back and beyond (I really do), but there is something about that first wave of Star Wars mania that really grips me, back when it was all fresh and exciting...

Monday, July 9, 2012

The Novelization: Book Club Edition


Nowadays, when a book is published, the hardcover edition usually comes first and then the paperback. But back in 1976, the Star Wars novelization (by Alan Dean Foster but accredited to George Lucas) first appeared in paper back. Then, came the hardback version with the gold border but before that, the Science Fiction Book Club put out a version for it's members with different artwork and, according to the excellent A Universe of Star Wars Collectables by Stuart W. Wells III, is the earliest hardback edition of the book.  



As with other editions, the book comes with plenty of full color stills from the movie. I also enjoyed the blurb from the inside flaps, especially the bit about 'Chewbacca the Pirate and his human companion Han Solo'!


Also, check out that old school 'W' in the logo on the back cover! 



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