STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980) – British Royal Charity World Premiere Empire Day Poster

British “Empire Day” Poster; 56.5 x 41.5 cm (22″ x 16″)
Very Fine Unfolded; Ralph McQuarrie and Eddie Paul
20th Century Fox, 1980

The British Royal Charity World Premiere (or “Empire Day”) poster is one of the rarest pieces of marketing material for The Empire Strikes Back and the Star Wars franchise as a whole. Designed by Eddie Paul of FEREF, with finished artwork by Ralph McQuarrie, the image of Vader’s head is adapted from McQuarrie’s distinctive “Vader in Flames” design, which collectors will recognise from the film’s crew patches. As stated on the poster, “Empire Day” took place in London on the 20th May 1980. This date was very close to the original British Empire Day held annually on Queen Victoria’s birthday (24th May) between 1916 and 1958. The 20th Century Fox marketing department took full advantage of the film’s release date as an army of Stormtroopers – in Jeeps and on foot – took to the streets of London, holding placards of this poster to build up the crowd’s already heightened excitement for the much-anticipated sequel.

Very minor edge wear and some subtle discolouration to the whites. A couple of small, light surface creases, one on the lower red area and one just above the “R” of “empire”.