I was saddened to learn from a friend of the death of Jim Stevenson.
Jim was known to collectors around the world as Mr. Star Wars, Mr. Jim Star Wars Stevenson.
He was genuinely famous among collectors for his great knowledge and enthusiasm for vintage toys. The picture above shows Jim in the Collectors Gazette newspaper in 1989, stood in front of his brilliant vintage toy fair stall, which was truly second to none.
It was through Jim's glorious toy stalls and his fabulous sales lists in Model Mart magazine that I first became aware of him. His stalls were without doubt the jewel in the crown at any toy fair he stood at. I often saw him at Doncaster Toy Fair and Morley Toy Fair in the 90's and 00's. The hallmarks of his stock were having world-class items, a huge variety of TV related toys and guaranteeing their utmost quality and authenticity.
Standing in front of Jim's toy stall was like being in the best vintage toy museum in the world. He was also always happy to help collectors with their queries and impart some of his vast knowledge.
His sales lists were just as good. Whenever Model Mart magazine dropped through my letterbox in the 90's - I subscribed - I used to excitedly look for Jim's lists first. Besides the huge array of TV related stock, which I found gobsmacking, there was always some Project SWORD in there too!
Along with TV Toy Zone, Jim was a crucial part of how my own collecting bug began around 1989.
Here's one of Jim's brilliant lists from December 1992, just after I started collecting myself. When I browse my old Model Marts again it will now be a very poignant experience for me.
Jim also wrote for Collectors Gazette and the Collectors Club of Great Britain and some of his toy articles are still online. The club also interviewed Jim in 2012, which is on their site and You Tube Parts 1 and 2 [click on the numbers].
The interview gives you an idea of Jim's enthusiasm and knowledge of vintage toys. When he was interviewed he had already been in the toy scene for nearly 30 years, doing it years before many of us had even thought of old toys as interesting.
A true pioneer, I for one shall really miss Mr. Jim and the toy world is definitely a poorer place. His influences do live on though.
My sympathy goes out to his family.
May the force be with you Mr. Star Wars.
Jim Stevenson
2020
RIP
Shame he's died - he was certainly well known. I bought a couple of items from him, but they weren't quite in the condition described (bits missing), though he did his best to make up for it. It has to be said though, his prices were far higher than just about anyone else's.
ReplyDeleteI thought he passed last year? He hasn't stalled at Sandown for quite a few shows . . . you're right though, just looking at that stall was enough!
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A lovely tribute, Woodsy, supported with some classic vintage magazine clippings. I found Jim's dedication and enthusiasm, inspirational. He always combined quality and rarity, long before the Internet made these things easier to find. His stall certainly had the appearance of a museum of memories. A top class collector/dealer who paved the way - RIP, Jim
ReplyDeleteYeah, Jim was a true pioneer and a real inspiration. I was never that bothered about Star Wars memorabilia. It was his other range of fabulous pristine TV toys that bedazzled me everytime I saw them on his stall or in his sales lists. As an erstwhile toy dealer I always appreciated the high standards Jim set for the rest of us mere mortals. RIP Jim.
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