At a Heritage Auctions sale of Hollywood memorabilia in Dallas on Wednesday, a Star Wars painting sold for $3.88 million, breaking the record for an object associated with the series.
The work, a painting by illustrator Tom Jung, served as the original half-sheet poster for Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope when it was first released in 1977. The work was consigned by the family of the film’s producer Gary Kurtz, who has owned it since it was first produced by Jung.
The work first appeared in national newspapers on May 13, 1977, two weeks before the film’s release, marking the first image used to widely promote the film. The work was subsequently used for the film’s official program, billboards, and magazine and newspaper ads.
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“This isn’t just a milestone for Star Wars. It’s a landmark moment for the entire field of pop culture collectibles and artwork,” Charles Epting, Heritage’s director of pop culture and historical consignments, said in a statement. “This painting defined the visual language one of the most beloved films of all time, and its impact clearly still resonates with collectors at the highest level.”
Following the film’s release, the painting hung in Kurtz’s office in San Rafael, California, before moving with him to his residence.
The $3.88 million price achieved for the painting exceeds the $3.6 million paid for Darth Vader’s lightsaber prop in September at Propstore in Los Angeles and the $3.13 million aid for a “Red Leader” X-Wing miniature at Heritage Auctions Dallas in 2023.
The previous record for a work of movie poster art was set in July at Heritage for the $687,500 sale of Bob Peak’s Apocalypse Now artwork.
