Star Wars Posters: Shopping 'Small' Pt. 1

"A New Hope"

Welcome!  Wanting to start a STAR WARS Movie Poster Collection but you don't have a whole lot of room or wall space, especially with ALL of those other titles you've aquired over the years?  I hear you!  In these Guides (there will be 4 altogether - check them out!) I hope to help out the beginner or enthusiast who haven't really seen all of the choices available and were unaware of their desirability. These particular Guides are also directed toward finding smaller posters with the 'titleing' in it's original English, to reflect these film's country of origin.  Let's get right to it.

1977 Original Release: Style 'A' Insert (14" x 36")

This would definitely be the popular 1st choice among fans, displaying the iconic artwork of artist Tom Jung.  In the smaller U.S. sizes, this was the only way of obtaining it.  You could also go after, in place of the Insert, the Australian Daybill of this style.

                   1977 Original Release: Style 'A' Australian Daybill (13" x 30")               

[This particular Daybill was for use in New Zealand]

As you can see, their quite simular.  The Insert is on a much more thicker stock of paper (thin cardboard) and the image is way more striking in colour.  On the flip side, the Daybill shows more of the image by down-sizing the title (like the original U.S. One Sheet).  And usually you can find the Australian poster at a more fair and cheaper price than the Insert.  The only 'miff' I have about the Daybill is that R2-D2 is nearly out of the shot completely.  I'm guessing because they wanted to show more 'action' on the poster by displaying more of the X-Wings on the left.  But then again, Star Wars experts would tell you that 'originally' C-3PO & R2 were not meant to be in this poster in the first place (They were painted in later AFTER Tom Jung was completed with the artwork by another artist).  So you could say that the Daybill is more direct to it's original conception - almost.

1977 Original Release: Half Sheet (22" x 28")

This poster is the cruelest joke in Movie Poster Collecting.  This Tom Jung artwork poster is ONLY available in the Half Sheet, so it's a really tough find and very costly.  Unfortunately it's one of the best looking STAR WARS posters out there.  Printed on thick-stock paper like the Insert poster, this colourful and gorgeous poster is an absolute 'must-have' for collectors.  But because of it's costly price tag and the scarcity of finding it, it may only be a dream to obtain it.  All I can suggest is if you find one, in ANY shape (e.g. damaged, ripped, soiled, rating sticker, etc.) - GRAB IT!  You can always fix it later with a fine Poster Restorer.  It'll still cost you in the end, but at least this way you don't have to pay all at once.  I was never really sure why this image was not used for the British Quad (being that it is the horizontal counter-part to the U.S. One Sheet), The British side opted for the Cantrell Style 'C' artwork instead, a shame.  You might have noticed there was no "Style" listed, that is because their isn't one.  We really should just start calling it "Style 'B'", because their is no Style 'B'.  Also, even though it's out of the "smaller" range of size (which is what this Guide is all about), you can purchase the Reprint poster that's floating around out there - which is full size (27" x 40").  It's cheap and it isn't a nasty bootleg, it was allowed by Lucasfilm to reprint up this poster because of high demand.  Of course I'm not really sure that it'll ever get any real worth like the originals, but it's really about the artwork isn't it?  And it's worth it.  (You could also try after the Official Program from the release of the film.  It features the artwork on the cover as well - if that's a direction you want to go).

1977 Original Release: Style 'C' Australian Daybill (13" x 30")

This poster may almost qualify as the 2nd cruelest joke, if it wasn't for there being a better quanity of this poster and that the price isn't ridiculously sky high.  But, it is the only poster that I've been able to find of the Style 'C' Tom Chantrell artwork on a smaller poster size.  This one is a clear choice, especially with it featuring practically everybody and everything in the film (which is no small feat) - and is the only STAR WARS poster to feature Peter Cushing as "Grand Moff Tarkin" on it.

1979 Re-Release: One Sheet (27" x 41")

[For Artwork Reference Only]

I unfortunately had only the image for the One Sheet on hand, but it will serve as a basic visual of what the smaller posters look like.  This was the very first Re-release poster for STAR WARS, when they brought it back to the theatre to either re-ignite the exitement before the second film was to be released and for the newer crowds to have a chance to see it for their first time.  Inside the red 'stripe' going through the middle, it advertises the upcoming film "The Empire Strikes Back" and an advertised offer through Kenner Toys and participating theatres.  The basic Luke & Leia artwork by Tom Jung is featured.  This poster is available in both the Insert and Half Sheet sizes.  I highly recommend the Insert, due to this poster's very plain look and eye-numbing choice of colours.  Truthfully, this poster was a real test for my eyes to stare at - it is not my favourite at all.  But it is a huge success with the STAR WARS collectors, this is their most favourite out of the Re-issue posters.  And the price is very, VERY steep!  If you can locate this poster release at all.  Everyone has their own taste and favourites.  I will say though that if you want the red stripe info to be seen a little more easily, if that's the most proud part of this poster, then I would go after the Half Sheet instead.  Good luck, I hope that you do find it because it is a real toughy at this time - and be prepared to pay.

1981 Re-release: Australian Daybill (13" x 30")

This was my personal favourite choice for a "Re-release" poster.  The black and gray make this poster absolutly eye-catching!  And the yellow stripe through the bottom third of the poster only enhances it.  Not too expensive, sometimes elusive - but not all the time.  And it features the legendary Luke & Leia 'stance' over the title (from the original Tom Jung Style 'A' poster).

Of course, there are more styles and Re-releases to choose from in the smaller sizes, especially the U.S. posters.  Here are some other choices and examples below:

1980 Re-release: Half Sheet (22" x 28") 

As you can see, it's the same as the Daybill pictured above except that the Half Sheet states that the Showing/Engagement is for "Two Weeks Only".  But it also depends on your style.  Does it look better wide or thin?  Thick-stock or thinner paper?

1982 Re-release: Half Sheet (22" x 28")

Popular for it's mention of the 'upcoming' film "Revenge of the Jedi", in the bottom right-hand corner stripe.  I feel the Insert of this poster is more worth getting.  The Half Sheet has a lot of 'open space', the Insert looks like it gets right to the 'point'.  I do however really like how they have the credits on a slant, it makes it much more appealing.

If you wish to continue your small poster collecting into the 'Anniversary' realm, here are two more fantastic choices to consider:

"Star Wars: The First Ten Years" 1987 Re-release: Anniversary Poster (16" x 26")

This little John Alvin artwork poster has so much imagery packed into it for such a small display.  Breath-taking and worth the search, but it'll be a toughy, I guarantee you that!  An official poster released to celebrate the 10th anniversary of STAR WARS, from when it first appeared in the theatres.

"Star Wars: Special Edition" 1997 Re-release: British Mini (12" x 16" approx.)

This wonderful piece of artwork was contributed by Drew Struzen, and I feel is one of his all-time best!  These Mini's were given away at the Re-release Showings over in the U.K.  Most dealers that either hailed from there or still live there, usually have these little beauties for sale.  They don't cost very much, and if your looking for a profit off of them in the years to come - I wouldn't guarantee it.  But it doesn't matter.  Once you have this poster placed into a little frame in a small apartment, you'll see why you had purchased it.  Plus a lot of collectors like to keep One Sheets & Quads and so on, stored away safe and undisturbed - this way you can at least see the poster for as much time that you wish.

That's Part 1 of my Guides focused on collecting 'small' STAR WARS posters.  This one dedicated to Episode IV's "A New Hope" - I hope that you enjoyed it!

Thanks for reading.

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