A rare US 40x60 poster for the original release of Raiders of the Lost Ark featuring Richard Amsel's iconic illustration of Indiana Jones with his trademark whip slung over his shoulder. Conceived by producer George Lucas and directed by Steven Spielberg in their first collaboration, the spectacular 1981 action-adventure blockbuster starred Harrison Ford as globe-trotting action-hero archeologist Indiana Jones in a quest for the biblical Ark of the Covenant. Created by Lucas as a tribute to the cliff-hanger western and adventure serials of the 1930s and 1940s, Raiders was a massive box office success, becoming the highest grossing film of 1981 and remaining one of the highest grossing films of all time when adjusted for inflation. Almost universally acclaimed by critics, with The New York Times calling it one of the most deliriously funny, ingenious and stylish American adventure movies ever made, the movie was nominated for eight Academy Awards including Best Picture, winning four for Best Art Direction, Film Editing, Sound, and Visual Effects plus a Special Achievement Award for Sound Effects Editing. Widely regarded as one of the greatest films of all time (Empire magazine ranks it second only to The Godfather), the film spawned a franchise including a prequel, two sequels (with another to follow in 2021), a television series and numerous video games.

US 30x40 and 40x60 posters were produced on heavy stock paper for use at drive-in theaters. In addition to having substantially lower print runs than US One Sheets, very few survived in good condition as they were often exposed to the elements and the thick cardstock creased easily. This copy has survived in remarkable condition with only minor imperfections.

Provenance

Excellent (A-)

Unfolded cardstock, not backed. Minor handling wear to margins and edges. Light foxing to lower and upper edges. A handful of very minor soft creases to artwork. Discolouration to paper verso. Image and colours excellent.