1980 Lucasfilm Star Wars Christmas Card (Empire Strikes Back Era, Published)
Artist: Ralph McQuarrie (All)
25 Comments - 599 Views - 21 Likes
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Framed Piece
Artwork Details
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Description1980 Lucasfilm Star Wars Christmas Card Design/Illustration, pencils on vellum by Ralph McQuarrie.Without a doubt, this is my Star Wars grail!! - An illustration from the godfather and originator of Star Wars art and design, featuring R2D2 and C-3PO (Artoo and Threepio 4 Life!), both characters that he originally designed/co-created with George Lucas...and a huge part of my childhood of course. From the year Empire Strikes Back came out in theaters!!!! Also later published in the Art Of Ralph McQuarrie from Lucasfilm Publishing. I have not been able to get a fresh scan of this piece yet (afraid to mess with it if I'm honest since it's on vellum and was pre-framed when I acquired it, see framed piece in additional images), so the picture or "scan" is through the frame on the outside. It's a real treat having this piece on the wall though. This piece has an interesting provenance/backstory (which was also included with the art) which included hand written correspondence between Ralph and the original owner, that reveals that Ralph likely traded this piece in exchange for a model plane or planes of some kind. Pretty interesting! Anyway I've had 2 major things on my Star Wars goal list in the last couple of years. A great published example from the original Marvel run (which still has eluded me so far, and prices went nutty in that market), and a Ralph McQuarrie original. One down, one to go! Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas everyone! Social/Sharing |
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Comments on this Artwork
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Ian Saint 
Member Since 2021
1 - Posted on 12/23/2022
An amazing card and a very classy Holiday Special. Merry Christmas Kavi and Congrats!
George H
Member Since 2009
1 - Posted on 12/23/2022
Super cool find! Beautiful line work and a great piece of early Star Wars art.
Marcus Wai
Member Since 2005
1 - Posted on 12/23/2022
I am your fantasy. I am your experience. So experience me. I am your pleasure. Enjoy me. This is our McQuarrie together in time that he might turn this moment into an eternity.
Ruben DaCollector
Member Since 2008
1 - Posted on 12/23/2022
If there's any piece of art that a combination Star Wars fanatic and art collector absolutely must own in their collection, it has to be an original piece by Ralph McQuarrie. Given how pricey his originals can get, it looks like you really scored with the perfect piece here! Kudos, man, and Merry Christmas!
D. J. Peters
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 12/24/2022
This is so great! Congrats and thanks for sharing!,
John C
Member Since 2014
1 - Posted on 12/24/2022
"It is indeed true that at times like this R2 and I wish we were more than mechanical beings and we were really alive so we could share your feelings with you."
K Gearon
Member Since 2011
1 - Posted on 1/4/2023
Oh man! I know why and see why this is a grail! McQuarrie drawing the droids - can't beat it. And a Christmas card?! Happy holidays it was :) Congrats, man!
Jason Hussa
Member Since 2017
1 - Posted on 1/5/2023
You are absolutely spot-on in your awesome description, Kavi: this is nothing short of a grail. An original McQuarrie? Dripping with charm and style?? With an ENORMOUS shot of C-3P0 and great shot of Artoo??!!?? Absolutely superb, Kavi - a Christmas miracle! :) Hope you had a fantastic holidays, and happy 2023!
H P
Member Since 2006
2 - Posted on 1/20/2023
Congrats Kavi! I love McQuarrie’s festive and whimsical work on all of the Star Wars Christmas greeting cards he illustrated for Lucasfilm. In case you’re unaware, a copy (From Lucas Archives) of your original with notes is published in vol. II of the Star Wars Ralph McQuarrie art book.
Kavi H
Member Since 2018
Posted on 1/20/2023
H P wrote:
Congrats Kavi! I love McQuarrie’s festive and whimsical work on all of the Star Wars Christmas greeting cards he illustrated for Lucasfilm. In case you’re unaware, a copy (From Lucas Archives) of your original with notes is published in vol. II of the Star Wars Ralph McQuarrie art book.
Thanks so much man!! And ohh i didnt know that, I will definately have to track a copy of that book down. Thanks for the info!
H P
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 1/20/2023
Kavi H wrote:
Thanks so much man!! And ohh i didnt know that, I will definately have to track a copy of that book down. Thanks for the info!
You're very welcome! It's on page #100 of Vol. II to be exact. The two-volume book is incredible. You could still find it on Amazon.
Kavi H
Member Since 2018
1 - Posted on 1/20/2023
H P wrote:
You're very welcome! It's on page #100 of Vol. II to be exact. The two-volume book is incredible. You could still find it on Amazon.
I just looked it up on Amazon and realized, AH it's that one, i actually already have it but for some reason didnt realize/catch that it was published in volume 2 - so awesome - thank you for making me realize ha!
H P
Member Since 2006
1 - Posted on 2/27/2023
Kavi H wrote:
I just looked it up on Amazon and realized, AH it's that one, i actually already have it but for some reason didnt realize/catch that it was published in volume 2 - so awesome - thank you for making me realize ha!
I thought I'd had seen this in another book and was right. Don't know if you have the book, but it's also on page #392 of The Art of Ralph McQuarrie book published by Dreams & Visions Press (2007). This book is long out of print, so it's a bit pricey now.
Kavi H
Member Since 2018
1 - Posted on 2/27/2023
H P wrote:
I thought I'd had seen this in another book and was right. Don't know if you have the book, but it's also on page #392 of The Art of Ralph McQuarrie book published by Dreams & Visions Press (2007). This book is long out of print, so it's a bit pricey now.
Thank you! No I had not heard of that book before so I will look into it! Thanks again 🙏🏽
Paul Dolan
Member Since 2023
1 - Posted on 7/11/2025
Wonderful !!!! A Ralph McQuarrie is on my list one day
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