SKot wrote: I do find it odd that I don't know anyone who had a copy of the Holiday Special prior to 1994

Poking through usenet, there are few mentions in the 80s, (possibly only one in 1989. Few in 1990 and 1991, but in 1992 there was posted about the special by a 'Joshua Ling' (e-mail address (in 1992) at USC) who offered to make copies for folks:

http://groups.google.com/group/rec.arts.sf.starwars/browse_thread/thread/2d782ba4b2c05668/4090718c5c9ee00f?q=%22star+wars+holiday+special%22#4090718c5c9ee00f

Searching for Joshua Ling and USC brings up a LinkdIn profile which mentions:

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/josh-ling/6/a96/205

Joshua Ling ... Archivist/Collections Manager at Stephen J. Sansweet, Sound Technician at University of Southern California, Projectionist at USC - School of

This could be one of the people who got the tape trading going.

*EDIT* here's a google+ account: https://plus.google.com/113624665393081966798/about

VideoCollector wrote: Could someone on here maybe shed some light on the different versions I have? None, I'm looking at you

I go by SKot's research in this category so: http://www.starwarsholidayspecial.com/versions.htm is the resource of merit.

My first copy came from a usenet resident tape trade, has a John Williams conducting piece tacked onto the end, mid to late 90s.