On May 12, 1977, the world didn’t 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 “Star Wars” 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 “Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope.”

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 “Star Wars” memorabilia and piece of movie poster art ever sold at auction. (Just a reminder: The very first “Star Wars” movie was released as Episode IV in what would later be a long series of Hollywood mega-hits.)

“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 consignments, pop culture & historical, said in a statement. “This 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.”

The record-setting sale was part of a two-day auction event that took in $7.71 million. The event also featured  also by treasures from “The Wizard of Oz,” a costume worn by Marilyn Monroe, Clint Eastwood’s pistol from the movie “Pale Rider,” and more. More than 2,600 international bidders took part across more than 600 lots during Heritage’s two-day Hollywood & Entertainment Signature auction.

Record-setting ‘Star Wars’ item

Jung’s painting was the first widely published image to promote “Star Wars,” and its nearly $4 million sale “shattered” every existing franchise record, Heritage Auctions said. The sale price surpassed the screen-matched “Red Leader” X-Wing filming miniature ($3.125 million through Heritage in 2023) and Darth Vader’s lightsaber ($3.654 million).

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’s “Apocalypse Now” key art work.

The “Star Wars” painting was consigned directly by the family of producer Gary Kurtz, Heritage said.

Ewok-centered work notches its own win

In addition to the record-selling “Star Wars” painting, Ewoks made their own appearance at last week’s auction. A screen-matched Ewok Village matte painting from “Star Wars: Episode VI — Return of the Jedi” earned a winning bid of $162,500. Created by Industrial Light and Magic matte artist Christopher Evans, 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’s key sequences.

Other notable items at the auction included artifacts from the 1939 “Wizard of Oz,” led by Margaret Hamilton’s screen-worn Wicked Witch of the West flying hat ($575,000); and  Judy Garland’s “rehearsal slipper” used during production to protect the jeweled Ruby Slippers($62,500), and her original crème 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.)

The auction also included a “Godfather Part Two” script ($25,000); an  FX breakaway transom panel from the ORCA II used in “Jaws” ($35,000); John Cusack’s trenchcoat from “Say Anything” ($61,250); a Grays Sports Almanac that appeared onscreen in “Back to the Future Part II” ($37,500); and Elvis Presley’s 1976 Harley-Davidson Bicentennial 1200 FLH Electra Glide, purchased by The King on August 11, 1976 ($125,000).

“This auction showcased the incredible momentum in entertainment collecting, with passionate engagement from fans across every corner of pop culture,” said Heritage Auctions EVP Joe Maddalena. “Children of the 1970s and ’80s who grew up on ‘Jaws’ and ‘Star Wars’ are 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.”

You can see full results from the auction by going here.

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