All Poster Forum
Common Poster Subjects => Valuation => Topic started by: One-Sheet on July 30, 2012, 09:06:04 PM
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Need some help identifying/locating this rare Star Wars Episode III poster/banner. First of all it is huge: 71" x 45 3/4". I purchased this from a U.K. seller on ebay back in 2005. It is the only one that I have ever seen. The artwork is identical to the artwork used for the U.K. DVD promotion but it is textless except for the Lucasfilm copyrights on the bottom left and a small UPC barcode in the lower right corner that says "12 FATS" which I have no idea what it is referring to. Anyway the poster/banner was printed on some kind of vinyl and had an adhesive backing. I had this professionally mounted onto heavy foamcore and it was extremely expensive. Recently it got damaged and I am quite devastated. This has been a personal favorite of mine and I fear it may be extremely rare, if not one-of-a-kind. If anyone can help me identify this and/or locate another one to replace my damaged one I would be extremely grateful.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7274/7680752082_4033a6ded1_z.jpg)
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7252/7680752152_8e0f5e73a2.jpg)
(http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8011/7680751970_3d3d75369b.jpg)
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I have not seen this example before, and it's not in the Star Wars Poster Book (though the later movie poster coverage is sporadic).
However, based on the wording, especially the "Used under authorization" part, my personal belief is that this is a commercial poster that was simply licensed by Lucasfilms. Other commercial posters bare similar language. As to the rarity and value, I couldn't say.
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Here's a slightly different version of the graphic (sans vader head):
http://www.virginmedia.com/movies/features/why-star-wars-still-matters.php
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Yes it is similar to the artwork used on the U.K. bus poster except it has Vader's helmet above which was used on the video poster for the DVD promotion and it is textless (no titles/logos/credits). I have only seen this on ebay once back in 2005 and I paid about $300 for it then. I also have the Star Wars poster book which is extremely lacking when it comes to information about international posters for Episode III. My best guess is that it was used for either theatrical or DVD promotion for a retail store that was not intended for consumer use. As this was 7 years ago, I have no idea who the seller was anymore and have no way to verify.
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Again, based on the written content and lack of information available about this particular design, I highly doubt it was used as a theatrical poster or for an official video release. In fact, I would put money on this not being the case. If it was used as an official studio issued movie/video poster, there certainly would be some record of it and at least one example of it online. There is no information or details about the movie on it (ie: release date, credits or even the name of the movie). While it could in theory by a teaser, if so I imagine there would be some record of it. The graphic in it is similar to others out there, but nothing exact - at least that I could find. It's also a very unusual size, and as far as I know, the studios never made vinyl sticky posters for official use.
The biggest give away, in my opinion, is the "used under authorization" line on the bottom. They don't put this on official movie posters - they don't need to authorize anything because they ARE the studio. If you look through the SW Poster Book, this line (verbatim or similar) is only used on licensed commercial prints, used by companies running events or advertising campaigns in conjunction with the movie. Add in the bar code label, and that certainly implies it was meant to be scanned for purchase in a retail environment, or possibly for inventory tracking by a company for it's marketing. It almost certainly was for consumer or commercial use.
Now, how rare it is or valuable is an open ended question. My understanding is that, with very few exceptions, commercial prints hold very little value to collectors. Star Wars does have some notable exceptions, but this poster doesn't come up often enough (outside of your experience in 2005) to judge the collectible or market value. For all we know, it could be a unique commercial 'proof' print that was never sold for some reason, and yours could have been the only example made (or surviving). If so, it is certainly rare - but is it valuable? Since your copy is damaged, that could nullify any potential value.
You never know, you may come across another one in the future. But in the meantime, the true value is what you perceive it to be. If you feel that it was worth $300 (plus mounting costs), then that's its value to you.
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Seems to me that the bar code is a dead giveaway that it was sold commercially.
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agreed, commercial poster, keep looking I bet you'll find another one one day.
they are probably all pinned on kids walls as we speak.
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Seems to me that the bar code is a dead giveaway that it was sold commercially.
No. I can tell you for certain that it wasn't sold commercially. I think the barcode may have something more to do with internal coding for the studio or distributor (i.e. Twentieth Century Fox/Lucasfilm) and may be a designation for tracking the banners that were produced. Definitely not sold commercially. Like I said, probably used for a retailer store promotion as part of their P.O.P. merchandising.
As for the value, I'm not really concerned. I am more concerned about identifying the source of this promotional banner and where/how to obtain another one (if possible). I have a bad feeling that I may spend the rest of my life searching, in vain, on ebay and the internet every single day and may never find another one. I am just hoping that with all of the good connections on this forum that someone here knows someone who might.
May the Force be with me.
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If you don't know the origin or history of this poster, how can you tell "for certain" that it wasn't sold commercially?
The general consensus is that it was in fact a commercial poster. All the evidence (disclaimer and bar code) are pointing towards that. This was NOT distributed by 20th. Century Fox or Lucasfilms. That much is pretty certain.
You seem to be asking for advice, and yet disagree with everything people are saying. If you know something (factual) that we don't, please share it since that might help. But unless you have some evidence to the contrary, I believe that your assumption is incorrect.
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If you don't know the origin or history of this poster, how can you tell "for certain" that it wasn't sold commercially?
The general consensus is that it was in fact a commercial poster. All the evidence (disclaimer and bar code) are pointing towards that. This was NOT distributed by 20th. Century Fox or Lucasfilms. That much is pretty certain.
You seem to be asking for advice, and yet disagree with everything people are saying. If you know something (factual) that we don't, please share it since that might help. But unless you have some evidence to the contrary, I believe that your assumption is incorrect.
Well for one, if this was a commercially sold poster, why aren't there any to be found anywhere on ebay or anywhere else on the internet? There are no records of it on any of the Star Wars collectibles and fan sites that I frequent. Even members of the Star Wars fan forums seem to be at a loss to identify it. I am an AVID Star Wars collector and well versed in all of the posters as I have been obsessively collecting Star Wars memorabilia for over 35 years and this is one of the most unique and rarest specimens of any promotional posters/banners that I have ever seen released promoting Revenge of the Sith.
I do remember the seller's description saying that it was for promotional purposes only and was unused. It came rolled in a ginormous thick indestructible tube the size of a bazooka and was in pristine condition. The paper backing on the adhesive was still attached. Also the quality of the poster... this is not some bootleg or fan made quality banner either. It was obviously studio printed. Everything about this poster just seems like it was used for some kind of promotional event and not made available to the general public. I welcome any information that anyone can provide to the contrary. If it was a commercially sold poster, please provide a source. I have never found one. I have searched extensively over the years and could find nothing and since it was damaged I have spent countless hours each day scouring the web and ebay for hope that I might find some.
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No. I can tell you for certain that it wasn't sold commercially. I think the barcode may have something more to do with internal coding for the studio or distributor (i.e. Twentieth Century Fox/Lucasfilm) and may be a designation for tracking the banners that were produced. Definitely not sold commercially. Like I said, probably used for a retailer store promotion as part of their P.O.P. merchandising.
As for the value, I'm not really concerned. I am more concerned about identifying the source of this promotional banner and where/how to obtain another one (if possible). I have a bad feeling that I may spend the rest of my life searching, in vain, on ebay and the internet every single day and may never find another one. I am just hoping that with all of the good connections on this forum that someone here knows someone who might.
May the Force be with me.
Barcodes are usually used for one of two things -- cash register scanners and inventory scanners.
I am unaware of any studio that 'tracks' their posters/banners/etc.
These things are throwaways from the studio perspective
Actually, the more I look at it, I'll bet it's an 'unauthorized' item produced and sold in Thailand.
Especially considering the awkward verbiage: "Used under authorization."
Never seen that printed on poster material before.
That and the adhesive backing spells Thai bootleg to me.
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If it's a bootleg then it is the highest quality bootleg I have ever seen and the textless graphic... how did they obtain it? All of the studio promotional materials using that image have been texted. Could only have been obtained the raw source from LFL.
Still, it is the best damned banner I have ever seen, IMO. This banner summed up everything that Star Wars meant to me and its sentimental value to me is priceless. At this point, I'd welcome even a bootleg for a replacement.
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It is very nice looking.
Can't the damage be repaired?
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It is very nice looking.
Can't the damage be repaired?
Oh how I wish that it could. There's a puncture mark just barely visible in the photo that i posted near the top of Anakin's lightsaber blade by Vader's nose. This photo was taken from afar to get all of the image in frame but it's very visible in person.
Also, interesting to note, you can barely see the unmasked Anakin head ghosting in Vader's nose up close. I thought that was such a cool Easter Egg.
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I am guessing a banner for the video game:
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/7/78/Star_Wars_Episode_III_cover.png/250px-Star_Wars_Episode_III_cover.png)
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Aha, that could be a winner.
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Actually, the more I look at it, I'll bet it's an 'unauthorized' item produced and sold in Thailand.
Especially considering the awkward verbiage: "Used under authorization."
Never seen that printed on poster material before.
When researching this in the SW Poster Book, I actually found quite a few posters that had the same language on them. They were all commercial posters. There was one event poster (something in Dallas or Denver, I forget the details) that had it as well. So it is used on some SW posters.
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I am guessing a banner for the video game:
Possibly, but I don't think so. If this was the case it would have most likely had the extra video game information on it. Specifically the ESRB rating and the other logos (as in your example). Maybe not if it was International, but there should have been something. Also, since the video game was made by Lucas Arts, it wouldn't have been a licensed image, since they own the license (under the corporate umbrella).
My vote is still for some commercial poster.
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I'll take a stab.
Could it be a promotional banner for the soundtrack or video game that would have been displayed in a Best Buy or Virgin Records? Seems like Best Buy used to have giant 'CDs' hanging in their stores and they would display upcoming albums. Obviously the size would dictate that it's not square CD artwork so it could be for the video game. Are there music stores in the UK that do that? It would make sense for the stickies to be on the back as well so they could adhere it to the display and then be changed on a monthly or whatever basis.
On a limb, could you download a bar code reader app to an iphone and get the actual number and then google it? It looks like an inventory type barcode to me. At least every barcode I've ever looked at was numerical. Lastly, I've NEVER heard of commercial vinyl banners being made for commercial purchases. If they were, that banner would have been expensive to produce.
Just thoughts. Good luck!
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I'll take a stab.
Could it be a promotional banner for the soundtrack or video game that would have been displayed in a Best Buy or Virgin Records? Seems like Best Buy used to have giant 'CDs' hanging in their stores and they would display upcoming albums. Obviously the size would dictate that it's not square CD artwork so it could be for the video game. Are there music stores in the UK that do that? It would make sense for the stickies to be on the back as well so they could adhere it to the display and then be changed on a monthly or whatever basis.
On a limb, could you download a bar code reader app to an iphone and get the actual number and then google it? It looks like an inventory type barcode to me. At least every barcode I've ever looked at was numerical. Lastly, I've NEVER heard of commercial vinyl banners being made for commercial purchases. If they were, that banner would have been expensive to produce.
Just thoughts. Good luck!
Yes I've tried using Red Laser and ScanLife on the barcode and there are no records of it in their databases.
Definitely not used to promote the Star Wars videogame or soundtrack. As you can see the artwork is obviously totally different. As I have said before it is EXACTLY like the artwork used on the UK DVD promotion but is textless so if it was produced for a promotional event it was probably for the DVD release at a major retailer. I got it from a guy in Scotland so maybe he worked someplace there in Glasgow that had it but he said it was never put up which is how it came to be unused and in mint condition when I acquired it.
It is apparently promoting the DVD as evident in this UK home video poster promoting the DVD:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Star-Wars-Episode-III-3-Movie-Poster-27X40New-Studio-Original-Not-A-Reprint-Rare-/320942662309?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ab9ac62a5 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/Star-Wars-Episode-III-3-Movie-Poster-27X40New-Studio-Original-Not-A-Reprint-Rare-/320942662309?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ab9ac62a5)
The closest I have found is this Israeli banner also promoting the DVD but it has Hebrew text written all over it.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/STAR-WARS-sith-revenge-ISRAEL-PROMO-HEBREW-POSTER-/370226175985?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5633331ff1 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/STAR-WARS-sith-revenge-ISRAEL-PROMO-HEBREW-POSTER-/370226175985?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item5633331ff1)
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(http://media.buch.de/img-adb/15961119-00-00/star_wars_trilogie_episode_1_3.jpg)
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It's probably just one of those poster you would buy at blockbuster...
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go back through your ebay feedback and see who you bought it from and see if they are still active...even if they are not active they may still get an email if you message them.
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When researching this in the SW Poster Book, I actually found quite a few posters that had the same language on them. They were all commercial posters. There was one event poster (something in Dallas or Denver, I forget the details) that had it as well. So it is used on some SW posters.
Really? I stand corrected.
cheers
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go back through your ebay feedback and see who you bought it from and see if they are still active...even if they are not active they may still get an email if you message them.
Tried looking through feedback. Problem is it was 7 years ago and I cannot see the item listings so I have no idea which one it was. I buy a lot of stuff from the UK so it could have been 1 of over a dozen sellers.
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It could be a wall mural - made to order
http://www.photowall.co.uk/photo-wallpaper/brands/star-wars/star-wars-lava-fight-2 (http://www.photowall.co.uk/photo-wallpaper/brands/star-wars/star-wars-lava-fight-2)
Cj
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It could be a wall mural - made to order
http://www.photowall.co.uk/photo-wallpaper/brands/star-wars/star-wars-lava-fight-2 (http://www.photowall.co.uk/photo-wallpaper/brands/star-wars/star-wars-lava-fight-2)
Cj
Well the artwork is indeed very similar but if you look closely the framing of the composite image of Vader behind them is not exactly the same. It's bigger and more pulled back. Also I don't clearly see the ghosting visage of Anakin's face on Vader's nose that is subliminally visible on my banner behind the flames (can't really see it clearly in the pic but up close you can't really miss it and it's a very subtle added touch). There's no question though that the graphic images are the same but the compositing is slightly different and without the Lucasfilm text or barcode. Still, this may be the closest I will ever find to my original banner so this at last gives me some hope. I would have to figure out sizing and cropping to get it as close to my original banner as possible. Also it would depend on the quality and resolution of the image printed at the size of my original banner at 71" x 45"
But thank you for the link. This at least feels like A New Hope.
(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7274/7680752082_4033a6ded1_z.jpg)(http://www.photowall.co.uk/images/products/800x600/42326/star-wars-lava-fight-2.jpg)
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if you used paypal then you can download your paypal payment overview files (even very old ones)
you can download them as a datasheet, inwhich you can search.
Look for a payment with an amount around 350 + shipping cost.
I used it a few times to relocate old buyers when I found something new to sell they might be intrested in.
do or do not , there is no try ! ;)