STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980) Special Edition 1997 Aust 1 Sheet
Condition Very Fine / Near Mint (9.0)
Size AU One Sheet (27" x 40")
STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980) Special Edition (1997) Movie Poster, Australian One Sheet, Starring Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Directed by Irvin Kershner, is in Very Fine/Near Mint...
STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK (1980) Special Edition (1997) Movie Poster, Australian One Sheet, Starring Harrison Ford, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher, Directed by Irvin Kershner, is in Very Fine/Near Mint condition.
Movie Poster and Condition.
Condition: This poster is presented in Very Fine/Near Mint condition, Rolled as issued, Very mild handling wear is in excellent condition. This highly desirable original Australian one sheet movie poster was produced for the 1997 Special Edition theatrical release of Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. Presented rolled as issued and retaining excellent overall presentation, this is a fantastic piece for collectors of Star Wars movie posters, original science-fiction memorabilia and fans of one of the most celebrated films in cinema history.
Movie Synopsis
Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980), later commonly known as Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, is widely regarded as one of the greatest science-fiction and adventure films ever made. Directed by Irvin Kershner and produced by George Lucas, the film continues the story that began with Star Wars in 1977. The screenplay was written by Leigh Brackett and Lawrence Kasdan, based on a story developed by George Lucas.
Set after the destruction of the Death Star, the Rebel Alliance is being relentlessly pursued by the powerful Galactic Empire. Rebel forces have established a secret base on the frozen planet Hoth, but their location is eventually discovered by Darth Vader and Imperial forces. The spectacular Battle of Hoth, featuring enormous Imperial walkers advancing across the icy landscape, remains one of the most memorable sequences in the entire Star Wars saga.
As the Rebels escape the Empire's attack, the story follows several of the series' most popular characters. Luke Skywalker, played by Mark Hamill, travels to the remote swamp planet Dagobah after receiving guidance through the Force. There he meets the legendary Jedi Master Yoda, who begins Luke's difficult training and teaches him important lessons about the Force, fear and self-belief.
Meanwhile, Han Solo, played by Harrison Ford, escapes aboard the Millennium Falcon with Princess Leia, portrayed by Carrie Fisher, along with Chewbacca and C-3PO. Their journey eventually takes them to Cloud City, a floating settlement administered by Han's old friend Lando Calrissian, played by Billy Dee Williams. However, the Empire and Darth Vader are never far behind.
The film is especially celebrated for its darker and more dramatic tone compared with the original Star Wars. Darth Vader, portrayed physically by David Prowse and voiced by James Earl Jones, becomes an even more powerful and threatening presence. The confrontation between Luke Skywalker and Darth Vader is one of the most famous moments in movie history and includes one of cinema's most significant plot revelations.
The Empire Strikes Back also expanded the Star Wars universe in remarkable ways. The introduction of Yoda, Lando Calrissian and the bounty hunter Boba Fett added memorable new characters, while the worlds of Hoth, Dagobah and Cloud City demonstrated the imaginative scope of George Lucas's science-fiction universe. The film's combination of groundbreaking special effects, spectacular action sequences, memorable music by John Williams and strong character development helped establish its lasting reputation.
In 1997, to celebrate the twentieth anniversary of the original Star Wars film, George Lucas re-released the original trilogy as the Star Wars Special Editions. The theatrical releases introduced updated visual effects and selected changes, allowing audiences to experience these beloved films again on the big screen. This 1997 Australian one sheet was produced as part of that significant theatrical re-release and represents an important piece of Star Wars collecting history.
Today, Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back remains a favourite among generations of fans and is frequently recognised as the strongest entry in the original trilogy. Its enduring popularity, iconic characters and extraordinary influence on science-fiction cinema have made original Star Wars movie posters highly collectable. This impressive Special Edition Australian one sheet poster is a wonderful display piece for fans of Luke Skywalker, Darth Vader, Han Solo and the timeless world of Star Wars.
To find out more about Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980) click here to go to IMDB.com.
Special Notes.
Images may have a small 'MPA' digital watermark and this does not appear on the poster. Posters are being held by magnets in the corners to take photographs, so you may see some magnet and shadows from the magnets in these areas. The magnets are not included in the sale of the item.
Postage, Insurance & Your Country Taxes
Postage costs are quoted for this item, include insurance up to AUD$100, but if you reside outside of Australia, the price does not include any import taxes/fees that you may be required to pay when the item reaches your borders. Please check with your local authorities for any additional taxes or fees. If you would like full insurance coverage for your purchase, please message me and I would be happy to quote the additional cost (estimate is AUD$2.50 p/AUD$100 or 2.5% of the item value, up to a maximum item value of AUD$5,000).
FAQ
At Movie Posters Australia, the love and conservation of movie posters comes first, and we like to share this passion. Our commitment to quality means we will provide high quality memorabilia to our customers. Posters are carefully chosen and authenticated to ensure originality and value. We want our customers to trust MPA, so we always try to be as open and transparent as we can, provide detailed condition information and images, to ensure customers are comfortable and confident in their purchase.
While the industry does have a few condition rating standards, there is no movie poster condition rating system that has become the accepted standard world wide. This unfortunately makes condition terms vary from movie poster dealer to movie poster dealer. Terms like Mint, Near Mint, Very Fine, Fine, Very Good, Good, Fair, Poor, seem to be universal to most condition rating standards, but most standards still lack definition about what and how many flaws/defects/damage defines a specific condition level. For more information on how Movie Posters Australia grades the condition of its movie posters, daybills, lobby cards and other ephemera please see out Movie Poster Condition and Grading page.
In the early days of cinema, posters were primarily hand-drawn and printed in various sizes, often tailored to fit the available space in theaters or promotional areas. In the United States, the "One Sheet" size (some times called '1 Sheet' or '1SH' approximately 27" x 41", became the standard during the 1930s. This size was manageable for theater display and suited the needs of a growing film industry.
Different countries developed their own poster sizes and styles, which also changed sometimes over the decades, and were influenced by local preferences and practical considerations, like available paper sheet sizes and how many posters could be printed on one sheet.
In Australia, the most popular size, the Daybill, has evolved over the decades. Australian Daybills sizes in chronological order are:
- Long Daybills (15" x 40"), from 1920's to pre-WW2 or pre-1941, were printed two to a sheet, longer than current Daybill versions. There were size variances in width from 14.5" to 15" and in height from 39.5" to 40".
- War Time Daybill (10" x 30"), during WW2, for a short time to conserve paper during a war time shortage, four Daybills were printed on one sheet. Information from Press Sheets also referred to these War-Time sizes as "New Size Daybills".
- Post-War Daybill (13" x 30"), this 13" x 30" Post-War size carried through until the 1980's, but also varied in size from 13"-14" x 29.75"-30.25".
- Post-80's Daybill (33cm x 66cm, or 13" x 26"), over a few years in the late 80's, the size changed again to a metric 33cm x 66cm, although these have also varied from 32-33cm x 64.5-66cm. New sizes from the late 80's were created, sometimes called a Mini Daybill or Mini Poster, in 9" x 12", 11" x 17" and 13" x 20".
In the UK, the somewhat unique 'Quad' poster, measuring 30" x 40", became popular, offering a larger landscape format that allowed for more elaborate designs.
In Japan, movie poster sizes were smaller, such as the "B2" (20" x 28"), which suited the more compact living environment of larger cities, smaller advertising spaces, and unique aesthetic sensibilities.
The 1970s and 1980s, witnessed the rise of the "six-sheet" (81" x 81") format, reflecting a trend towards larger and more visually impactful advertising.
Overall, the variation in movie poster sizes across different countries and decades highlights the interplay between technological printing advancements, paper resource availability, paper sheet size changes, cultural preferences, and the evolving nature of movie marketing.
At Movie Posters Australia we tag each poster we sell with a 'size' and 'condition' description at the very top of the page for our customers to easily see. There may however be some slight variations to sizes by up one inch due to variations in production and guillotine methods by printers over the decades.