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Fans who grew up with the OT-Do any of you actually prefer the PT? Should darth maul have died? What plotline, character or scene in the entire Saga irritates you the most? The misconceptions you had about Star Wars, when you were a kid There are no polls currently operating in this sector. Please check back soon. View Poll Archives A History Of Polish Star Wars Memorabilia Posted By Mike on April 24, 2008 Our friend Lukasz of the Polish fan site www.starwars.pl wrote to let us know that he has just translated (to English) a fantastic article by Kuba Turkiewicz detailing the history of Polish Star Wars collecting in a piece titled "Let's Collect Polish Star Wars Memorabilia!" See below for the intro and click here for the full article. "The history of Star Wars items collecting began in 1976 at the San Diego convention. That is where the first T-shirts, badges and posters with the "Star Wars" logo appeared. Then came the time for the novelization and comics and finally after the premiere of the movie the most popular Star Wars product - Kenner figures - appeared. The avalanche of various collectible cards, stamps, clothes, personal hygiene items, utensils, masks and even furniture with Star Wars motifs was a direct, and natural, consequence of the sudden awakening of the collective imagination of the people who were charmed by the world created by George Lucas. In the US and other countries, where the healthy rules of free market prevailed, fans were granted almost unlimited access to such collectibles and toys. However, the situation behind the Iron Curtain remained largely unknown. But it wasn't as bad as it could seem. Countries like Poland or Hungary found themselves under Soviet influence, where every interest in the "decadent art of the bourgeois West" was met with severe hostility and the free press was non-existent. However, even here people experienced a huge explosion of interest in the movie and the phenomena connected with it. Unfortunately, not all of these phenomena arrived in Poland unchanged: we were, among other things, deprived of the pleasure of collecting the licensed items. On the whole, merchandise from the West was not available on the Polish market. As far as foreign goods were concerned, little more than Chinese pencil cases and scented erasers were available. There were, of course, Pewex shops, in which some of the foreign products were available for dollars, but the range of products was rather limited. As far as toys are concerned, it was virtually reduced to the Matchbox cars exclusively. Still, economic isolation had its good sides, at least from the point of view of a cunning craftsman or the modern collector. Pity or delight? During the late 1970s and early 1980s, Poland was not bound by any international agreements concerning copyrights, and therefore the production of items - according to the local law -was legal. Still, the technology used by the Polish manufacturers was rather primitive, as sophisticated machinery was not accessible during that period. As a result, the Polish fans received a set of collectibles, the quality of which was rather low. Some of them were pitiful even according to contemporary standards, while with other items the fans were speechless with delight. Today, thirty years later, all of these collectibles awake very warm feelings. They are a testament of an era past, when Star Wars fans cunningly evaded all obstacles put in front of them by Chance and found fulfilment in their passion. They also bring back the nostalgic atmosphere of the days, when - with naive joy - we were discovering the world of the galaxy far, far away. After many years of studying the Polish Star Wars history, I can attempt to compile a list of 11 categories, which contain Polish collectibles manufactured before 1989: 1. Movie posters 2. Polfilm photographs 3. Newspaper cuttings 4. Books 5. Unlicensed photographs 6. Slides 7. Stickers 8. Pencil tops 9. Pins 10. Droid figures 11. Bootlegs of Kenner figures Each category contained tens, sometimes even hundreds of different variations, as was the case with photographs for instance. It's time to give them a closer look!" Thanks Lukasz! Pics from http://www.starwars.pl email this story discuss in forums Select Date 2009, November 2009, October 2009, September 2009, August 2009, July 2009, June 2009, May 2009, April 2009, March 2009, February 2009, January 2008, December 2008, November 2008, October 2008, September 2008, August 2008, July 2008, June 2008, May 2008, April 2008, March 2008, February 2008, January 2007, December 2007, November 2007, October 2007, September 2007, August 2007, July 2007, June 2007, May 2007, April 2007, March 2007, February 2007, January 2006, December 2006, November 2006, October 2006, September 2006, August 2006, July 2006, June 2006, May 2006, April 2006, March 2006, February 2006, January 2005, December 2005, November 2005, October 2005, September 2005, August 2005, July 2005, June 2005, May 2005, April 2005, March 2005, February 2005, January 2004, December 2004, November 2004, October 2004, September 2004, August 2004, July 2004, June 2004, May 2004, April 2004, March 2004, February 2004, January 2003, December 2003, November 2003, October 2003, September 2003, August 2003, July 2003, June 2003, May 2003, April 2003, March 2003, February 2003, January 2002, December 2002, November 2002, October 2002, September 2002, August 2002, July 2002, June 2002, May 2002, April 2002, March 2002, February 2002, January 2001, December 2001, November 2001, October 2001, September 2001, August 2001, July 2001, June 2001, May 2001, April 2001, March 2001, February 2001, January 2000, December 2000, November 2000, October 2000, September 2000, August 2000, July 2000, June 2000, May 2000, April 2000, March 2000, February 2000, January 1999, December 1999, November 1999, October 1999, September 1999, August 1999, July 1999, June 1999, May 1999, April 1999, March 1999, February 1999, January 1998, December 1998, November 1998, October 1998, September 1998, August 1998, July 1998, June 1998, May 1998, April 1998, March 1998, February Gentle Giant R2-D2 Statue Posted By Chris on November 7, 2009: Three years in the making! TFN Review: Landing at Point Rain Posted By Eric on November 7, 2009: TCW returns to TV -- what did we think? Verizon Droid Meets Star Wars Posted By Justin on November 7, 2009: Is it worthy of that title? TCW UK Comic Writers Interview Posted By Mike on November 7, 2009: Now online at SW.com Joe Schreiber Signing In Tulsa, OK Posted By Mike on November 7, 2009: One more stop on the Death Troopers Tour TCW Season 1 Now At PlayStation Store Posted By Mike on November 7, 2009: Download for your PS3 or PSP New Release Date For The Complete Vader Posted By Mike on November 7, 2009: Those printing errors created quite the delay TCW: "Landing At Point Rain" Episode Guide Posted By Mike on November 7, 2009: Updated! Full version online with commentary Karpyshyn Blogs On Bane & More Posted By Mike on November 7, 2009: Dynasty of Evil comes out next month! TOR: Threat Of Peace Issue #19 Posted By Mike on November 7, 2009: Now online at SWTOR.com TOR Blog On Writing The Jedi Knight Posted By Mike on November 7, 2009: Written by senior writer Drew Karpyshyn 2009 Fans' Choice Poll: Voting Continues Posted By Curto on November 6, 2009: Vote for the next Fans' Choice Figure Star Wars Insider Special Edition Posted By Justin on November 6, 2009: Exclusive collector's issue ForceCast: In The Cantina With Hugh Quarshie Posted By Jason on November 6, 2009: A rare interview with Captain Panaka FD3: MintInBox Gigantic Review Posted By Justin on November 6, 2009: As good as it gets Baltimore Bid For Celebration V Rejected Posted By Justin on November 6, 2009: As per the Baltimore Business Journal Learn To Draw A Tauntaun Posted By Justin on November 6, 2009: Artist David Petersen shows us how Tauntaun Sleeping Bag Pre-Order Today Posted By Philip on November 5, 2009: Be there when they put them up for pre-order. Twin Lounging Leias Posted By Justin on November 5, 2009: Fisher and Eddon taking a break Chewbacca Halloween Pumpkin Design Posted By Justin on November 5, 2009: Not your average carving for sure Enter Email Address: Find Out More... AllPosters.com Search For Posters, Cardboard Stand-Ups & T-Shirts! THEFORCE.NET IS NOT ENDORSED BY LUCASFILM, LTD. PLEASE READ OUR DISCLAIMER. © 2009 COPYRIGHT TF.N, LLC