Empire Magazine – April 1997 – Star Wars Special Collectors Edition – Harrison Ford

Original UK edition of Empire Magazine, April 1997, featuring Harrison Ford as Han Solo on the front cover in a special celebration of the original Star Wars trilogy.

An excellent piece of 1990s cinema memorabilia, published during the renewed popularity of Star Wars following the theatrical release of the Special Editions.

This issue celebrates the original Star Wars films with a prominently advertised collectors' cover trilogy and extensive editorial coverage of the characters, films, actors and history of George Lucas's science-fiction franchise.

Magazine Details

Publication: Empire Magazine
Issue Date: April 1997
Cover Star: Harrison Ford as Han Solo
Main Feature: Star Wars – The Ultimate Celebration
Original UK Price: £2.60
Edition: UK
Language: English
Format: Printed Film Magazine
Condition: Pre-owned
SKU: 1567

Front Cover – Harrison Ford as Han Solo

The front cover features a striking photograph of Harrison Ford portraying Han Solo, one of the most recognisable characters from the original Star Wars trilogy.

Han Solo is pictured wearing his familiar white shirt and black waistcoat, holding a blaster directly towards the camera.

The photograph creates a dramatic, action-oriented composition, with the character positioned centrally against a predominantly dark background.

The large red EMPIRE masthead occupies the upper portion of the cover.

Surrounding the central photograph are smaller images referencing other memorable elements of the Star Wars universe.

These include:

• C-3PO – The distinctive gold-coloured protocol droid.

• R2-D2 – The famous astromech droid, pictured alongside C-3PO.

• Darth Vader – The iconic black-armoured antagonist.

• Princess Leia – Portrayed by Carrie Fisher.

• Star Wars spacecraft – Imagery associated with the franchise's science-fiction setting.

The main headline reads:

"FEEL THE FORCE!"

Beneath it is the prominent announcement:

"THE ULTIMATE STAR WARS CELEBRATION"

The design reflects the enormous cultural impact of Star Wars and its renewed popularity during 1997.

Star Wars – Special Collectors Edition

A particularly interesting feature of this issue is its prominently advertised Special Collectors Edition Cover Trilogy.

The front cover displays miniature reproductions of three different Empire Star Wars covers.

These feature:

• Harrison Ford as Han Solo.

• Mark Hamill as Luke Skywalker.

• C-3PO, the gold-coloured protocol droid.

The miniature covers demonstrate the alternative cover designs produced for the magazine's Star Wars celebration.

Important: This listing is for the single Harrison Ford/Han Solo cover edition shown in the photographs. The other cover variations illustrated on the front are not included.

The original cover advertises the following Star Wars-related material:

Brand New Interviews

Contemporary interviews associated with the Star Wars films, their production and their continuing popularity.

The Facts

Background information about the original films and their place in cinema history.

The Figures

Coverage of characters, collectables and other aspects of the Star Wars phenomenon.

The Secrets

Behind-the-scenes information and details relating to the production of the films.

The Spin-Offs

Discussion of the wider Star Wars universe beyond the original theatrical films.

The Next Three

Coverage of the future of the Star Wars franchise as it was being discussed in 1997.

This makes the issue particularly interesting as a contemporary publication from the period before the release of the Star Wars prequel trilogy.

Star Wars and the 1997 Special Edition Era

The magazine was published during an important period in Star Wars history.

In 1997, the original trilogy returned to cinemas in newly presented Special Editions.

These releases introduced the films to another generation of cinema audiences while renewing interest among established fans.

The three original films were:

Star Wars (1977)
Later subtitled Episode IV – A New Hope.

The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
The second film in the original trilogy.

Return of the Jedi (1983)
The concluding film of the original trilogy.

The April 1997 Empire issue is therefore an interesting contemporary publication for collectors researching the franchise's 20th-anniversary celebrations and its theatrical revival.

Harrison Ford – Han Solo

Harrison Ford's portrayal of Han Solo remains one of the defining performances of the original Star Wars trilogy.

The character is closely associated with:

• The Millennium Falcon.

• Chewbacca.

• Princess Leia.

• Luke Skywalker.

• The Rebel Alliance.

• The original trilogy's space-adventure storytelling.

The front-cover photograph prominently displays Han Solo's familiar costume and blaster, making the magazine especially appealing to Harrison Ford and Star Wars collectors.

The central photograph is large and visually striking, occupying much of the cover.

Additional Film Coverage

Alongside the Star Wars celebration, the front cover advertises several other cinema-related features.

The Lost World – Exclusive Pictures

The upper cover banner promotes exclusive pictures from The Lost World.

This refers to the highly anticipated 1997 sequel to Jurassic Park, directed by Steven Spielberg.

The film was a major cinema release during the same year as this magazine.

The cover promotion is of particular interest to collectors of Jurassic Park and 1990s blockbuster cinema memorabilia.

The English Patient

The top banner also promotes coverage of The English Patient.

The acclaimed 1996 romantic war drama starred Ralph Fiennes, Juliette Binoche, Kristin Scott Thomas and Willem Dafoe.

The film was a major awards-season success and an important release of the period.

Michael Caine

The front cover advertises additional material involving British actor Michael Caine.

Caine was already an established figure in British and international cinema, with a career spanning several decades.

Dante's Peak

The issue also promotes coverage of Dante's Peak, the 1997 disaster film starring Pierce Brosnan and Linda Hamilton.

The film reflects the popularity of large-scale action and disaster movies during the late 1990s.

The Most Pretentious Movies Ever Made

Another advertised feature examines films regarded by the magazine as particularly pretentious.

This reflects Empire's mixture of serious cinema journalism, film criticism and humorous editorial commentary.

Collector Appeal

This issue may appeal to collectors of:

• Original Star Wars trilogy memorabilia.

• Harrison Ford and Han Solo collectables.

• Empire Magazine back issues.

• Star Wars Special Edition cinema releases.

• 1990s science-fiction magazines.

• George Lucas and Lucasfilm memorabilia.

• Darth Vader, Princess Leia and C-3PO memorabilia.

• Jurassic Park and The Lost World collectables.

• Vintage British film magazines.

• Film history and cinema journalism.

The bold cover design, original 1997 publication date and Star Wars-focused editorial promotion make this a desirable example of period cinema publishing.

Condition Report – Please Read Carefully

Condition: Pre-owned, with visible signs of age, previous handling and storage.

The photograph shows the actual magazine being offered.

Front Cover

The front cover retains its distinctive Star Wars artwork, with Harrison Ford as Han Solo clearly visible.

The main headline, masthead and surrounding film imagery remain readable.

Visible imperfections include:

• Noticeable wear along the bottom edge.

• Rubbing and small areas of print loss along the lower-left portion of the cover.

• Scuffing around the lower corners.

• Light surface scratches and handling marks.

• Minor creasing and waviness.

• Wear along the spine edge.

• Small marks and general surface rubbing.

• A noticeable white damaged or obscured area over part of the yellow circular promotional graphic on the right-hand side.

• Slight corner and edge curling.

The lower edge shows the most obvious general wear, particularly around the coloured promotional banner.

The original red, black and yellow cover design remains strong and clearly recognisable.

Spine and Binding

Some age-related wear is visible along the left-hand spine edge.

The magazine appears to retain its original cover attachment, although the binding and individual pages cannot be fully assessed from the supplied photograph.

Interior Pages

Only the front cover has been photographed.

The condition of the individual interior pages, any internal markings and the completeness of the magazine have not been independently verified.

Overall Condition

Pre-owned vintage magazine with noticeable cosmetic wear to the cover and edges.

The cover remains visually appealing, with its principal Harrison Ford photograph and Star Wars graphics clearly displayed.

This is not a mint-condition example.

Please examine the supplied photograph carefully before purchasing, as it forms an important part of the condition description.

Original Additional Items

This listing is for the single original Empire Magazine shown in the photograph only.

Any original free gifts, promotional items, loose supplements, cards, additional inserts or other items that may originally have accompanied the magazine are no longer included.

Only the magazine pictured will be supplied.

The alternative Star Wars collectors' covers illustrated on the front are promotional examples and are not included as additional magazines.

Product Information

Magazine: Empire
Publication Date: April 1997
Cover: Harrison Ford as Han Solo
Main Subject: Star Wars Original Trilogy
Additional Cover Subjects: The Lost World, The English Patient, Michael Caine, Dante's Peak
Country of Publication: United Kingdom
Language: English
Original Cover Price: £2.60
Format: Printed Magazine
Genre: Film, Cinema, Science Fiction and Entertainment
Condition: Pre-owned
SKU: 1567

Packaging and Delivery

UK Orders: The magazine will be carefully packaged and dispatched in a protective hardback envelope to help minimise bending and damage during transit.

International Orders: The magazine will be carefully packaged in a sturdy cardboard mailing-size box for additional protection during international shipping.

The photograph shows the actual item being sold.

Please review the image carefully, particularly the visible cover wear, edges, corners, spine and damaged area of the right-hand promotional graphic.