This lot will be auctioned on Tuesday, June 29th. The auction will begin at 9:00am PDT and lots are sold sequentially via live auctioneer; tune in to the live streaming broadcast on auction day to follow the pace. Note other lots in the auction may close on June 30th or July 1st.

A Luke on Tauntaun drawing for a production illustration by Ralph McQuarrie from Irvin Kershner's Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back. While patrolling Hoth for signs of the Empire, Luke Skywalker (Mark Hamill) was knocked off his tauntaun by a vicious wampa.

McQuarrie was a key designer on the original Star Wars film as well as the sequel, and created concepts for many characters in the film including tauntauns. He also created production illustrations as concept works and as marketing works, following the success of the Ralph McQuarrie Star Wars Portfolio as a commercial product. McQuarrie's production illustrations created for marketing purposes were frequently done based on photographs of already-completed live-action photography, and this drawing is likely one of those.

The Luke on tauntaun production illustration is one of the artist's most memorable paintings for The Empire Strikes Back, and appeared in the Ralph McQuarrie ESB Portfolio, released shortly after the film itself.

This preparatory drawing for the production illustration is rendered in graphite on tissue paper taped to a sheet of plain paper marked "20." McQuarrie's process frequently involved beginning with a drawing on vellum, that he could later re-trace onto an illustration board to begin a painting. This is believed to be the final drawing for the Luke on tauntaun painting. The tissue paper is creased with visible edge wear and loosening tape, but the sketch remains in good overall condition. Dimensions: 17.25" x 11.25" (44 cm x 28.75 cm)

Sold without copyright; see notice in Buyer's Guide.

Estimate: $15,000 - 20,000