Action Man Collectors Guides
There are many commercially available Action Man Collectors Guides, some are listed below.

The Ultimate Collector Vol. 1 1966 – 1969

The Ultimate Collector Vol. 2 1970 – 1977

The Ultimate Collectors Guide Vol. 3 1978 – 1984

The Official Dossier

On Land, Sea & In The Air

The Real Story 1966 – 1996

The Gold Medal Doll For Boys 1966 -1984
Unfortunately all these Action Man collecting guides are no longer in print but you may be able to pick them up second-hand from ebay and other sources.
We would recommend the Ultimate Collector series by Alan Hall for the most comprehensive list of vintage Action Man figures.
Frances Baird’s book, The Gold Medal Doll for Boys is one to avoid. Many of the photos and information in this book is incorrect with many of the Action Man figures dressed in equipment from a variety of outfits.