Customer Reviews

The Unauthorized Handbook and Price Guide to Star Trek Toys by Playmates

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

As one who has collected these things for years, it certainly does bring pride to me to see everything in my collection presented in this beautiful full-color book. The illustrations are large and beautiful, but I was a bit disappointed to see not everything was displayed outside of its packaging. While I don't mind photos of the packaging, I wish everything in the book could have been shown outside of the packaging for consistency.

Those who purchase this book should understand that it does not list variants. There are far too many to account for them all anyway. The prices are a joke-- one must wait at least a decade or two for the prices to stablize. As I understand it, the author was forced to do add pricing under pressure from the publisher, so forgive the pricing inaccuracies.

Although the book is a fairly complete reference of Playmates Star Trek toys, there are just a few items missing. For example, I could not find an entry for the 12" Q figure. However, such omissions are few and far between. Buy this book if you collect Playmates Star Trek toys. It is worth checking out if you are a toy collector and missed out on seeing the beauty of this line.

Don't let Amazon fool you this book is new and AVAILABLE! (It just came out in June 2000.)

It is the best source out there for people who collect Trek Action figures, ships and accessories made by Playmates. It covers the entire line from 1992 to the end in 2000. Images of all products, plus descriptions of accessories that came with the toys and a price guide. One of the more nicely done collectibles guides on the market today. Any Trekkie would want want for there collection.

This book is a must have for both fans and collectors. The best illistrated of the many ST collector books on the market. Admittedly covering just the Playmate toys it does cover all those issued including exclusives. But there are two downsides.
One - I think the discriptions are a little weak sometimes,and a little more history would be nice.
Two - Beware that this edition only covers the releases before the latest movie. None of the Playmate 'Star Trek - 2009' movie releases are listed.

I recently acquired this book and found it to be misrepresented. On the back the author states, "Playmates Toys produced Star Trek toys-action figures, accessories, and starships-in great abundance throughout the 1990s, beginning in 1992, and this book chronicles each and every one of them." This book DOES NOT chronical each and every one of them. It is missing various action figures released not only in the USA, but from abroad as well. In addition, there are many accessories and playsets that were not "chronicled" as well. Moreover, the values of each item are way off as well. What one personally pays for an item or what a secondary retailer is asking for them are not an accurate represenation of what these toys are worth.

In any case, while the book gave us colored pictures and its design was good it is only a good reference. A bit overpriced, but a good reference source nonetheless. I would certainly use it alongside other Star Trek handbooks and price guides in order to get an accurate reference of the entire toy line by Playmates (as well as others) and their values.