| Signed Chaykin Poster | |
| I wanted to share a remarkable piece of Star Wars history—one that marks a turning point not just for autograph and poster collectors, but for fandom itself.
Let’s rewind to 1976. “Star Wars” wasn’t a household name yet—it was just a risky sci-fi film no one had heard of, being quietly promoted at three key conventions: the San Diego Comic-Con, the 34th Annual Science Fiction Convention (MidAmericon) in Kansas City, and the Westercon (West Coast Science Fantasy Conference) in Los Angeles, specifically at the Los Angeles Science Fantasy Society (LASFS) Meeting held at the hotel the evening before the convention started. Charley Lippincott, Vice President of Advertising for Lucasfilm, did a slide presentation for that one but there was no table nor posters. SDCC had a little more going on with a table that included the first promotional posters for sale. Charley did a slide presentation along with Roy Thomas from Marvel Comics and Howard Chaykin, the artist for the posters. however, it was at the World Science Fiction Convention in Kansas City (MidAmericon) where something truly special happened. In attendance were Charles Lippincott, producer Gary Kurtz, a display of costumes, props, photos, etc. the Chaykin posters for sale and a young, then relatively unknown actor named Mark Hamill. (Mark didn’t attend the other two conventions) As mentioned, among the early promo materials was the now-legendary “Chaykin” Poster—1,000 of them printed and sold for just $1.75 each. A good handful were signed by Mark with modest inscriptions like “Best of luck” or “Lots of love best wishes”— simple, sincere, and completely unaware of what was to come. No “May the Force be with you,” no “Galactically yours.” Just the unassuming handwriting of an actor on the brink of something no one could predict. Nearly five decades later, most of those signed posters have aged with the times: faded autographs, linen-backed, needing restoration, and a possible personalization removed. But not this one. This poster was tucked away in a tube for nearly 49 years—untouched, unfaded, and completely original. The autograph? Crisp and clean, as if Mark signed it yesterday. More than just a signature, it’s a time capsule—signed nearly nine months before the world met Luke Skywalker and before Star Wars transformed cinema forever. A forgotten relic rediscovered—mint condition from a moment when Star Wars was still just a gamble Below are nine examples of those originally signed posters that Danny Katzel and I have pieced together as they have been rediscovered over the years at auction sites and one from Antiques Road Show. |
 | |
| Description by: | Tony van Dam |
| Photo: | Danny Katzel, Tony van Dam |
| From the collection of: | Danny Katzel, Tony van Dam |
| Country: | United States |
| Film: | A New Hope |
| Licensee: | 20th Century Fox |
| Year: | 1976 |
| Category: | Posters / Retail |