The Propstore Pop Culture Live Auction – London Summer 2025 will as always be absolutely loaded with incredible items and treasures none more fascinating than this piece, an original The Empire Strikes Back poster promoting Empire Day, the day the film premiered in UK. With a starting bid of £4000 and estimates ranging from between £8000 – £16,000, this incredibly rare and beautiful piece is sure to grab all the attention when the auction takes place 2nd July.
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 that 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.
Presented unrestored with a couple of minor surface creases (in the red under the date and under Vader’s right eye), some very subtle discolouration to the surrounding whites, and some minor handing wear including a 2 cm tear on the bottom border. Dimensions: 57 cm x 41 cm (22.25″ x 16.25″)
