Movie fans will be intrigued by a raft of rare posters going on sale at Ewbank’s next month, including posters advertising many of the original Star Wars films, and early James Bond movies.
The auction will take place on Friday 23 August at Ewbank’s auction rooms just off the A3 near Guildford, England.
Alastair McCrea, entertainment specialist at Ewbank’s said: “Star Wars memorabilia always creates a buzz when it comes to auction. Anything connected to the original three films in particular is highly sought after from fans all over the world.”
One of the highest value lots already catalogued for sale is a British Quad film poster, advertising Star Wars, the iconic 1977 first film in the franchise, featuring art work by Tim and Greg Hildebrandt, and was used when the film was initially released in the UK.
However, following the film’s launch, the studio decided the characters on the poster should more closely resemble the actors in the movie, so the Hildebrandt-designed poster was discontinued. The studio reissued the poster, featuring artwork by artist Tom Chantrell, and it’s his design that is now most associated with the film.
The Hildebrandt Star Wars poster on sale at Ewbank’s is rolled, measures 30 by 40 inches, and carries a pre-sale estimate of between £1,000 and £1,500.
Ewbank’s has a number of posters by printing company Marler Haley on sale, all made for Odeon, to promote the original first three Star Wars films going on sale. These are one of the rarest Star Wars poster sets and it’s expected these will garner great interest from Star Wars buffs all over the world.
This includes a set of four double crown posters (20 by 30 inches) promoting the 1977 Star Wars film, which has been valued at between £800 and £1,200 ($960-1,440). Plus, a set of four posters of the same size advertising the 1980 movie Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, which has a pre-sale guide price of between £500 and £800.
Another set of four Marley Haley double crown posters for Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back, is also going under the hammer. However, these have spaces for stills and handwritten captions, something the team at Ewbank’s has not come across before. The set carries an estimate of between £200 and £400.
Among the many James Bond posters going under the hammer is a British quad film poster (30 by 40 inches) advertising 1965 movie, Thunderball, starring Sean Connery, which has been valued at between £1,000 and £1,500.
A double crown poster (20 by 30 inches) promoting 1971 film Diamonds Are Forever, also starring Connery, has been valued at between £300 and £500.
Another set of four Marley Haley posters for Odeon, this time for 1981 Bond film, For Your Eyes Only, has an estimate of between £200 and £400.
A poster for 1962 horror film, The Day Of The Triffids, has been valued at between £300 and £500.
