| Early Star Trek Galore Catalog Advertising Bootleg Merchandise - Page 2 | |
| Unlicensed merchandise has been with Star Wars since soon after it became an international box-office phenomenon. This was due in part to the substantial lead-in time required for the development of most mass-produced products--many companies (including primary toy licensee, Kenner) were not able to get their products onto store shelves until the following year, a situation which left a vacuum in terms of licensed Star Wars merchandise that fans could collect. In its place a vast amount of bootleg merchandise was produced and distributed through outlets such as the Star Trek Galore catalog, some pages of which are featured here. The second page shows an array of buttons sporting both character images and catchy Star Wars slogans. Some of the latter type are direct--if goofy--quotes from the film, while others have only a vague association with Star Wars ("Pirates have to make a living, too"), and still others exploit a pre-existing Star Trek fanbase ("A Wookie is a walking, talking, Giant Tribble"). My personal favorite, though, is definitely the one reading "Society For Prevention of Cruelty to Womp-Rats." I believe that the "May the Force Be With You" "original promo button" shown at the far right may actually have been an officially sanctioned item. I still see them for sale in quantity, however, so they may have been produced illegally, too. |
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| Description by: | Ron Salvatore |
| Photo: | Ron Salvatore |
| From the collection of: | Ron Salvatore |
| Country: | United States |
| Film: | A New Hope |
| Licensee: | Star Trek Galore |
| Year: | 1977 |
| Category: | Catalogs / Retailer |