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Series 4 Window Box Edition

Corinthian released International Prostars Series 4 on the 16th of October 1999 and introduced an all new packaging format. This new format was designed after collectors bombarded Corinthian with requests for a style of pakcaging that allowed you to view the figure you were buying, but also allowed the figure to be removed from the packaging without damaging the packaging, so the figure could, at a later date, be put back into the packaging and the end result was the Window Box. This, as the name suggests, was a small cardboard box with a clear plastic window at the front, allowing you to see the figure inside. The boxes opened via a little tab at the top and could be safley opened and closed without damaging the box itself.

From the 16 figures released there was an incredible 11 first time sculpts, a huge amount for any series. This series really was one of the best ever released, so many international stars and first time releases of some truly world-class players. This was the first time Brazilian legend Rivaldo was released and Corinthian got the sculpture spot on and his Brazilian team mate, perhaps the world's best ever Left back, Roberto Carlos was also sculpted and released for the very first time, almost life size too!

Coritnhian also released 2 Dutch greats in the Holland home kit, those 2 being Patrick Kluivert and Ronald De Boer. Kluivert had never been releaed by Corinthian before this, depsite a sculpt of him in the Ajax kit been made a couple of years earleir, intended for the Dutch Staatsloterij range but it was sadly dropped from the range. The De Boer is the only figure in this entire range which is an exact copy of a previously released figure, as it was released as part of the Dutch Staatsloterij range in the colour of Ajax.

Serie A, Italy's top league, had 2 figures releaed in club kits from their league, those two being Andrei Shevchenko in the AC Milan home kit and Hidetoshi Nakata, this time in the away kit of Perugia. The Shevchenko was a brand new sculpt but the Nakata had previously been released in both series 2 and as part of the Japanese national range of Headliners. The Chilean strike partnership of Salas and Zamorano was released, both in their nations home kit and Argentina was too represented with the release of Ariel Ortega in their home kit.

A total of 7 figures were released from the English Premiership, 4 of which are first time sculpts. Arsenal was as always well represented, with Nigerian Nwankwo Kanu in the home and Croatian talisman Davor Suker being released in the home kit of Croatia, both were of course first time releases. Both the Arsenal figures are incredible likeness of the players themselves, with the Kanu being almost life size, one of the tallest figures Corinthian have ever released.

Chelsea's figure for this series was chosen to be Uruguayan Gustavo Poyet, another great sculpt and one which aptly captured the character of the player. Newcastle United surprisingly had 2 figures released, I say surprisingly as Manchester United and Liverpool had just 1 each. The 2 toon figures were temperamental Georgian Temuri Ketsbaia, we all remember him going mental and taking his shirt and shorts off while kicking the advertising hoardings after scoring a goal, thankfully Corinthian sculpted him fully clothed! Along with Ketsbaia was a re-release of big Duncan Ferguson, who had previously been released for Everton in the FAPL Collection range, however the Newcastle United figure was a new body pose but the facial sculpt remained the same, both in the home kit.

Completing the line-up are the 2 re-sculpts, figures of players who had previously been released but this time they were completely re modelled. Ryan Giggs was the choice for Manchester United and the sculpt was an improvement on the FAPL Collection version, much more depth and character to the sculpt, with this version seeing him in the home kit. Liverpool's iconic home grown talent Robbie Fowler was once again released, this time sporting his, at the time anyway, trademark White nose strip, although a re-sculpt it proved to be a very popular figure, given the unique aspect to it, that and it genuinely was a true likeness of the player and a huge improvement on the previous Fowler figures, this version saw him painted in the usual Red Liverpool home kit.

The Window Box was sold at all of Corinthian's official collector centres and even at newsagents and smaller retailers. You could not purchase the window box format directly from Corinthian, however you could still buy the figure in clear sachet format from them. The best seller from the window box range was Ryan Giggs, again due to the fact he was producd in the highest volume. The figures produced in the lowest volume were Ortega, Salas, De Boer and Zamorano.

Each figure came issued with a collector card and collectors information file. Corinthian once again ran the free Platinum pack offer with this series, same format as last time, collecting 8 tokens enabled you to claim a free Platinum pack. Although the figures themsleves are not as rare as thier blisterpack counterparts, they are still very hard to find in original window box, you tend to find them more loose and boxed versions are much sought after.

To view further information about this release, please click the link button opposite.

Series 4 Window Box - Page 2

Roberto Carlos

Brazil

Away Kit

PRO150

Rivaldo

Brazil

Home Kit

PRO151

Ryan Giggs

Manchester United