{"id":453310,"date":"2025-12-17T13:39:24","date_gmt":"2025-12-17T13:39:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/453310\/"},"modified":"2025-12-17T13:39:24","modified_gmt":"2025-12-17T13:39:24","slug":"1977-star-wars-painting-sells-for-record-3-9m-at-dallas-auction-dallas-innovates","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.europesays.com\/us\/453310\/","title":{"rendered":"1977 ‘Star Wars’ Painting Sells for Record $3.9M at\u00a0Dallas Auction \u00bb Dallas Innovates"},"content":{"rendered":"

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[Imaged by Heritage Auctions, HA.com]<\/p>\n

On May 12, 1977, the world didn\u2019t know about The Force. Or a boy named Luke and a deep-breathing villain named Darth. Or X-Wing Fighters, Obi-Wan Kenobi, R2D2, and a whole universe of \u201cStar Wars\u201d storytelling. But one day later that changed, when an acrylic and airbrush painting (above) by illustrator and movie poster designer Tom Jung appeared in newspaper ads coast to coast, in the runup to the premiere of \u201cStar Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n

Last Wednesday, the original 1977 half-sheet artwork for that ad sold for $3.875 million at Heritage Auctions in Dallas, making it the most valuable piece of \u201cStar Wars\u201d memorabilia and piece of movie poster art ever sold at auction. (Just a reminder: The very first \u201cStar Wars\u201d movie was released as Episode IV in what would later be a long series of Hollywood mega-hits.)<\/p>\n

\u201cThis isn\u2019t just a milestone for \u2018Star Wars.\u2019 It\u2019s a landmark moment for the entire field of pop culture collectibles and artwork,\u201d Charles Epting, Heritage\u2019s director of consignments, pop culture & historical, said in a statement. \u201cThis painting defined the visual language of one of the most beloved films of all time, and its impact clearly still resonates with collectors at the highest level.\u201d<\/p>\n

The record-setting sale was part of a two-day auction event that took in $7.71 million. The event also featured\u00a0 also by treasures from \u201cThe Wizard of Oz,\u201d a costume worn by\u00a0Marilyn Monroe,\u00a0Clint Eastwood\u2019s pistol from the movie \u201cPale Rider,\u201d and more. More than 2,600 international bidders took part across more than 600 lots during Heritage\u2019s two-day Hollywood & Entertainment Signature auction.<\/p>\n

Record-setting \u2018Star Wars\u2019 item<\/p>\n

Jung\u2019s painting was the first widely published image to promote \u201cStar Wars,\u201d and its nearly $4 million sale \u201cshattered\u201d every existing franchise record, Heritage Auctions said. The sale price surpassed the screen-matched \u201cRed Leader\u201d X-Wing filming miniature\u00a0($3.125 million through Heritage in 2023) and Darth Vader\u2019s lightsaber ($3.654 million).<\/p>\n

The sale also set a new world auction record for any piece of movie poster art, Heritage said, blowing away the previous record achieved by Heritage of $687,500 for Bob Peak\u2019s \u201cApocalypse Now\u201d key art work.<\/p>\n

The \u201cStar Wars\u201d painting was consigned directly by the family of producer Gary Kurtz, Heritage said.<\/p>\n

Ewok-centered work notches its own win<\/p>\n

In addition to the record-selling \u201cStar Wars\u201d painting, Ewoks made their own appearance at last week\u2019s auction. A screen-matched Ewok Village matte painting from \u201cStar Wars: Episode VI \u2014 Return of the Jedi\u201d earned a winning bid of\u00a0$162,500.<\/strong> Created by Industrial Light and Magic matte artist Christopher Evans,<\/strong> the acrylic-and-oil composition depicts the treetop settlement on the forest moon of Endor, the iconic setting where the Ewoks shelter Luke, Han, Chewbacca, and C-3PO in one of the film\u2019s key sequences.<\/p>\n

Other notable items at the auction included artifacts from the 1939 \u201cWizard of Oz,\u201d led by Margaret Hamilton\u2019s screen-worn Wicked Witch of the West flying hat ($575,000); and \u00a0Judy Garland\u2019s \u201crehearsal slipper\u201d used during production to protect the jeweled Ruby Slippers($62,500), and her original cr\u00e8me organdy blouse from the film, which brough in $87,500. (Heritage sold the famous Ruby Slippers last year for a world record $32.5 million.)<\/p>\n

The auction also included a \u201cGodfather Part Two\u201d script ($25,000); an \u00a0FX breakaway transom panel from the ORCA II used in \u201cJaws\u201d ($35,000); John Cusack\u2019s trenchcoat from \u201cSay Anything\u201d ($61,250); a Grays Sports Almanac that appeared onscreen in \u201cBack to the Future Part II\u201d ($37,500); and\u00a0Elvis Presley\u2019s 1976 Harley-Davidson Bicentennial 1200 FLH Electra Glide, purchased by The King on August 11, 1976 ($125,000).<\/p>\n

\u201cThis auction showcased the incredible momentum in entertainment collecting, with passionate engagement from fans across every corner of pop culture,\u201d said Heritage Auctions EVP Joe Maddalena. \u201cChildren of the 1970s and \u201980s who grew up on \u2018Jaws\u2019 and \u2018Star Wars\u2019\u00a0are now leading the charge, driving prices higher as they seek to reconnect with the films that shaped their lives. Collectors today are honoring the moments, the creativity and the legends that continue to inspire us.\u201d<\/p>\n

You can see full results from the auction by going here<\/a>.<\/p>\n

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