A STAR Wars fan has paid a record £2.9million for the original painting for the first film’s poster.
The acrylic and airbrush work, used to promote 1977’s Star Wars Episode IV: A New Hope, was sold at auction yesterday by the family of producer Gary Kurtz.
It features Luke Skywalker, Princess Leia, Darth Vader, R2-D2, C-3PO and Obi-Wan Kenobi as well as battle scenes from the movie.
The sale in Dallas set records for memorabilia from the film franchise as well as for any movie poster art.
Bidding started at $1million before the hammer fell at $3.1million (£2.3million).
The buyer, who bid online and chose to stay anonymous, also had to pay a 25 per cent premium, bringing the total paid to $3.875million (£2.9million).
It outstripped the previous highest auction price for Star Wars memorabilia of $3.6million (£2.7million) for Darth Vader’s lightsaber.
The painting, by Tom Jung, appeared in newspapers on May 13, 1977, two weeks before George Lucas’s film was released.
It was kept by Mr Kurtz who died in 2018.
His family offered it for sale for the first time.
His daughter, Melissa, called it a “warm reminder of being part of the making of an incredible film”.
Charles Epting, from Heritage Auctions, said: “This is the image that launched a mythology — it is the first glimpse of a universe that continues to inspire awe and wonder nearly 50 years later.”
