Star Wars (1977), Hildebrandt poster, British

Star Wars (1977), Hildebrandt poster, British

Artists: The Hildebrandt Brothers, Greg Hildebrandt (born 1939) and Tim Hildebrandt (1939-2006)

Unframed: 30 x 40 in. (76 x 102 cm)

The Hildebrandt Brothers were commissioned to design this poster for the British release of the film. Star Wars was released in America in May 1977 and did not get released in the UK until December of the same year. By the time the film was released in the UK, the studio felt that the characters were already well known, and the Hildebrandt Brothers' artwork did not reflect this. Therefore they commissioned a completely new poster by Tom William Chantrell. This rare original design - used mainly in London on the Underground a few months before the film's release - was then replaced by Chantrell's poster.

This is one of the rarer British posters on this title, as far fewer of this style were produced and even less survived.

This was where it all began back in 1977, when George Lucas founded the Star Wars empire.