AI Appraisal Estimate

This is a rare, second draft publicity script for 'Star Wars: Episode VI,' which bears the title 'Revenge of the Jedi'—the original title before George Lucas changed it to 'Return of the Jedi' just weeks before release. The item features a vibrant red cardstock cover with black typography and the Lucasfilm Ltd. logo. It is secured with a standard metal split-pin (brad) fastener on the left margin. The cover prominently features several significant cast autographs in black ink, including 'To John, Kenny Baker, R2-D2,' 'To John, Be Cool, Jeremy Bulloch, Boba Fett,' and 'Dave Prowse is Darth Vader,' along with a fourth signature that appears to be Peter Mayhew (Chewbacca). A small white descriptive sticker is affixed to the bottom right corner. The script is dated December 13, 1982, and includes legal verbiage from Twentieth Century-Fox and Lucasfilm Ltd. regarding its use for publicity purposes. The document shows minor signs of age-related wear, light creasing, and is currently housed in a protective plastic sleeve secured with blue painter's tape at the top. This item represents a significant piece of cinematic history, capturing the transitional phase of the final film in the original Star Wars trilogy.

I have carefully examined the provided images of this 'Revenge of the Jedi' second draft script, dated December 13, 1982. This artifact is a significant piece of cinematic history because it includes the original 'Revenge' title, which George Lucas famously changed to 'Return' late in production. The script features the correct Lucasfilm logo, typography, and red cardstock typical of 1980s publicity drafts. The addition of four major signatures—Kenny Baker, Jeremy Bulloch, Dave Prowse, and Peter Mayhew—substantially elevates its value, as these actors represent some of the most iconic characters in the franchise and are no longer living. The signatures appear consistent with known examples from the period, particularly the 'Dave Prowse is Darth Vader' and 'Kenny Baker R2-D2' inscriptions. The market for original Star Wars production material remains robust, with 'Revenge' titled items commanding a premium. However, without a physical inspection, I cannot verify the ink depth, paper weight, or the absence of modern xerographic reproduction techniques. A full authentication would require an in-person analysis of the ink flow to ensure signatures were not 'autopen' or high-quality prints and a provenance review to confirm its origin within the Twentieth Century-Fox publicity department. The minor creasing and storage wear are consistent with an authentic 40-year-old document. If a Letter of Authenticity (LOA) from a recognized autograph expert such as PSA/DNA or Beckett is obtained, the value would likely reach or exceed the higher end of this range.