Star Wars (1977)

For all its galactic scale, Star Wars was in many ways a British film: much of it was shot at Elstree Studios, and much of its sound was invented with the humblest of means. Ben Burtt created the hum of the lightsaber by combining the whirr of an old film projector with interference from a television set.

George Lucas commissioned the leading British artist Tom Chantrell to create this design, which also ran as the US Style C and was intended to bring out the film's star appeal and merchandising possibilities. This is the highly prized pre-Oscars version, printed for the first release before the film won any Academy Awards. Later printings carried news of that success, so this earlier state is the one collectors seek. Folded as issued and linen-backed.

• Year: 1977
• Nationality: United Kingdom
• Condition: Folded-as-issued and linen-backed
• Type: Original Pre-Oscars British Quad
• Size: 30 x 40 inches
• Product Code: P1009