Rare STAR WARS: THE EMPIRE STRIKES BACK "Gone With the Wind" Poster Could Sell for Over $20,000
A seriously rare piece of Star Wars history is about to hit the auction block, and it isn’t just any poster. This is the kind of item that makes a hardcore fan like me wish I could afford something like this.
For nearly five decades, the Star Wars franchise has built a legacy not just through its films, but through its unforgettable artwork. From the jump, the series knew how to hook audiences visually.
The original 1977 one-sheet by Tom Jung was awesome and created a feeling. Luke Skywalker stood larger than life, lightsaber raised, with Darth Vader looming ominously above. It didn’t mirror the film exactly, but it effectively sold the myth.
That tradition didn’t slow down with the sequel. In fact, when The Empire Strikes Back hit theaters, artist Roger Kastel delivered what many fans still consider the definitive Star Wars poster. It leaned into romance, danger, and scale, capturing a darker tone that helped define the sequel’s identity. It’s known as the “Gone With the Wind” Star Wars poster.
Now, that legendary artwork is back in the spotlight thanks to Propstore Auction, which is offering up an extremely rare version of Kastel’s poster.
What’s going up for sale is a UK “Quad” version of the poster, a format with different dimensions than the typical U.S. one-sheet. These were originally meant to be trimmed down and displayed in the London Underground.
This particular piece was never trimmed or displayed. That untouched condition is exactly why collectors refer to it as “the Holy Grail of Star Wars posters.”
“Heading to the #PropstorePosterAuction is the legendary “Gone with the Wind” style British quad for The Empire Strikes Back (1980), widely considered one of the most sought-after Star Wars posters ever produced.
Designed by Roger Kastel, the artwork pays homage to the iconic Gone with the Wind composition, featuring the sweeping romantic pose inspired by Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh. Produced exclusively for British cinemas in extremely limited numbers, most surviving examples were later trimmed down to fit London Underground display frames.
“What makes this poster especially rare is that it remains completely untrimmed, preserving its original full size exactly as intended on release.”
The estimated final bid sits somewhere between £10,000 and £20,000. In U.S. dollars, that could easily climb past $27,000 depending on how intense the bidding gets.
The poster has been linen-backed and has undergone some fold line restoration to give it a clean, flat look. Even with that work done, it’s graded at a “Very Fine+,” roughly around an 8.5 out of 10. That kind of condition for a piece this rare still puts it in a league that collectors dream about.
And if you think that’s the only tempting item in this auction, think again. The event also includes production call sheets and paperwork from Star Wars, concept art from Star Wars: Attack of the Clones, and even costumes and props from Star Wars: The Force Awakens and Star Wars: The Last Jedi.
It’s basically a treasure chest for fans who want a tangible piece of the galaxy far, far away. But make no mistake, this Kastel Quad poster is the crown jewel. It’s the kind of item that doesn’t just sit in a collection, it defines it.
