STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980) - Hand-Lettered Teaser Poster Mock-Up

A hand-lettered mock-up for a teaser poster from the promotion of Irvin Kershner's Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Created for the style of advance teaser known globally as the "Darth Vader in Space" poster, this artwork was used in several printed variations throughout 1979. This unique mock-up offers a rare glimpse into the design process behind the highly successful teaser campaign.

This lot consists of a large-format photographic print of the Vader image with dry transfer (press-on) lettering applied by hand. Elements including the Empire Strikes Back logo, the tagline below it, the tagline at the top, and the entire billing block were added manually during layout. Several notable differences separate this version from the final poster: the Vader helmet is flopped, the starfield differs, and the tagline appears beneath the logo rather than under the credits.

The poster is mounted in a gray vintage matte, likely used for a presentation. The reverse side features a label from design firm Seiniger Morrison & Associates. This is believed to be a one-of-a-kind production mock-up, with no other examples of this exact layout known to have surfaced. Dimensions: 28" x 21" (71.25 cm x 53.5 cm)

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