"To Serve The Empire" Klingon Recruiting Poster by Dru Blair (1997)

Retail poster. Be sure to click the image above for a larger version!

Size: 24" x 36"
Artist/Illustrator: Dru Blair
Release Year: 1997
Region: United States
Notes:

• This image was originally painted by artist Dru Blair for the cover of the Star Trek Communicator magazine's special Klingon issue, published October / November 1995. (See cover below.) Blair's other Star Trek work includes over 30 novel covers for Pocket Books, and several posters / prints / lithographs. [Dru Blair entry at Memory Alpha]

• In their March/April 1997 issue, the Communicator offered an exclusive 24" x 36" poster print of the painting on "100 lb. high quality gloss poster stock suitable for framing." The poster was offered for $14.95 plus S&H. (See the full-page catalog ad below; click to enlarge.) It is not clear if their poster included the magazine's logo (top) and/or the official fan club logo (bottom right), or if these were present only on the catalog page.

• The Communicator retail poster version of the painting differs somewhat from the version used for their magazine cover, particularly in the placement of the artist's signature, and the character portraits used for the Klingons on the far left and far right. (The original artwork featured the minor characters of Klag on the left and B'iJik on the right; the revised painting features Kor on the left.)

• As of 2021, Dru Blair's website contains only one mention of Star Trek, and no Trek-related prints are offered for sale. However, ca. 2006-2011, drublair.com offered four Star Trek prints—three featuring the USS Voyager, and this one, entitled "To Serve The Empire." Described as "depict[ing] the essence of a Klingon Fleet recruitment poster (not that any encouragement was needed!)," it was offered as a 24" x 30" open edition poster for $25.

Star Trek: The Vengeance of Khan - Roger Huyssen Art

Roger Huyssen created this preliminary 'Vengeance of Khan' title treatment for Star Trek II, before the title was changed to The Wrath of Khan, circa 1981. Artist signature in the lower third of the image on the right. Note the seams above and below the title where the art was extended beyond its initial size. I speculate that this artwork may have been intended for a teaser poster before the title was changed.

Huyssen also created this advance one sheet for The Motion Picture, and is credited, along with Gerard Huerta, with co-creating this design for The Search for Spock.

Image courtesy of Harry Angelikas / TrekCore.

Star Trek III: The Search For Spock US One Sheet (1984)

 

Star Trek III: The Search for Spock theatrical release one-sheet poster. Tagline: "Join the search." Be sure to click the image above for a hi-resolution version!

Size: One Sheet (27" x 40")
Artist: Gerard Huerta
Designer: Spiros Angelikas
Release Year: 1984
Region: United States
Notes:

• The number stamped at the bottom right, 840047, is the NSS (National Screen Service) number for this film. The first two digits represent the release year, while the last four represent the film’s sequential release position for the year (STIII was number 47 for 1984). (From 1940 until the mid-1980’s, the NSS controlled production and distribution for nearly all the movie posters, lobby cards, etc, for films released in the United States.)
• Fine print at the bottom of the poster indicates it is the property of the NSS and it must be returned or destroyed immediately after use.
• See this post for a closer look at the artwork for this poster.
  

Star Trek III: The Search For Spock - Gerard Huerta Art

This key art for Star Trek III: The Search for Spock is by Gerard Huerta (artist signature on the lower right side of the art). This art was used for STIII’s theatrical poster campaign in the US, examples of which can be viewed here.

Huerta is predominantly known for his letterform and logo design; this is one of the few movie posters he created or co-created. While most sources credit this art to Huerta alone, some sources list Huerta and Roger Huyssen as co-artists. Based on the work Huyssen did for the "Vengeance of Khan" title, I speculate that Huyssen did the title lettering for the final version of this poster (and possibly the starry elements), seen below, while Huerta was responsible for the face of Spock.

Note that the final design elements of the Enterprise and the Klingon Bird-of-Prey are absent from the original illustration. They are photographic elements—likely added during the graphic design and layout phase along with the film title, poster border, credits block and corporate logos—and are not part of Huerta's original artwork.

In discussing this artwork, we must also recognize Spiros Angelikas, designer and owner of the Spiros Associates design firm, for his art direction. Art like this for a major studio production is typically a collaborative process, and Angelikas worked alongside Bob Peak on the poster art and design for the first several Star Trek films and many others. For further reading on Mr. Angelikas, check out this post at TrekCore.

Star Trek [TOS] "The Cage" Home Video B&W Poster (1986)

 

Star Trek "The Cage" home video release promotional poster. Be sure to click the image above for a larger version!

Size: Unknown
Artist/Illustrator: Charles deMar
Release Year: 1986
Region: North America
Notes:

• This is an alternate version of the one-sheet promotional poster for "The Cage."
• According to the History of Star Trek: TOS On Consumer Home Video site, Paramount released these early black-and-white "mini" posters as promotional items at conventions, presumably in Spring / Summer 1986. I have not been able to find more evidence of this poster's existence elsewhere; if you have any info on this item, please leave a comment!
  
• In this version of the art — as compared with the final version — the character of ship's surgeon Dr. Boyce is shown next to Vina on the lower right instead of Captain Pike. Boyce is holding a phaser, which is also missing from the final art. Presumably, someone felt that Pike should be the one rescuing the damsel in distress here, and had the art repainted.
• Regarding size, the image source describes this as a mini poster. If we assume the Paramount and VHS and Beta logos are sized the same as on the full-size poster, that makes this one roughly 15" x 20." With this aspect ratio, it could also be 8" x 10".
  

Star Trek [TOS] "The Cage" Home Video Promo Poster (1986)

Star Trek "The Cage" home video release one-sheet promotional poster. Be sure to click the image above for a hi-resolution version!

Size: One Sheet (27" x 40")
Artist/Illustrator: Charles deMar
Release Year: 1986
Region: North America
Notes:

• Image courtesy of eMoviePoster.com.
• deMar's original poster art included the character of Dr. Boyce in place of Pike (next to Vina). This alternate artwork can be seen here.
• In 1985, Paramount Home Video began to release the entire run of the original Star Trek series on home video in groups; with the release of each new group, a new promotional poster was sent to retailers for in-store advertising display. This poster was for the 1986 standalone release of the series' unaired original pilot episode. (On this initial VHS/Beta release, "The Cage" was reconstructed with black and white footage from a work print of the original pilot, along with color footage that had been re-purposed for the regular series episode "The Menagerie." Three years later, in 1989, "The Cage" would be released on home video for the first time in full color in its entirety.)
• Fine print on the lower left side of the image reads "Not for resale."
• This poster is similar to the "Group 5" poster, with respect to the style of portraiture and the angle and placement of the Enterprise, and was released in the same year. However, the artist signatures are different.
• This artwork was used for the slipcase / sleeve art for multiple home video releases of this episode on VHS, Beta, and LaserDisc formats. Many of these covers can be seen here.

Star Trek "Before The Search For Spock" VHS Advertising Poster (1984)

 Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan VHS advertising poster. Tagline: "Before 'The Search For Spock' Began..." Be sure to click the image above for a hi-resolution version!

Size: 17.5" x 25"
Artist/Illustrator: Unknown
Release Year: 1984
Region: United States
Notes:

• Greenberg's lists this poster as follows: 1984. 'Before the Search For Spock Began. Unusual color art poster showing Kirk facing Spock through glass partition in Engine Room as the Vulcan dies. Bottom reads "See Star Trek III The Search For Spock At A Theater Near You." Right-hand, lower corner shows photo of STTMP video tape and ST II video box with the special edition of "Space Seed" package. 17.5" x 25".'
• More information on the stand-alone release of "Space Seed" on VHS can be found here.
• If you have any info on the artist, please leave a comment!
  

Star Trek [TOS] Ship & Crew Poster - John Tibbetts Art (Year Unknown)

Star Trek [TOS] ship and crew poster with art by John Tibbetts. Ca. 1980s, year unknown. No information on the publisher or whether this was retail, promotional, or even licensed. If you have any info on this item, please leave a comment! Be sure to click the image above for a larger version!

Greenberg's lists this poster as follows: 'Tibbetts, 1980s. Black and white artwork showing off-center starboard TV Enterprise in cloudy space with eight head portraits — Chapel, Uhura, Kirk, Spock, Chekov, Sulu, Scotty, and McCoy. 19" x 28".'

"Spock is Dead?" Lincoln Ent. Retail Poster (1982)

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan-era "Spock is Dead?" retail poster from Lincoln Enterprises. Be sure to click the image above for a hi-resolution version!

Size: Various (see Notes)
Photographer/Designer: Unknown
Release Year: 1982
Notes: 

• Although this poster was first sold as a Wrath of Khan tie-in, the photo of Spock is clearly from The Motion Picture.
  
• Greenberg's lists two versions of this poster. The first is described as "Lincoln Enterprises #P2170, 1987. Photo close-up of Spock facing left with eyes in light, background in deep shadow. 24" x 36"." Indeed this poster does appear in the 1987 Lincoln catalog, sans text (see below; click to enlarge).

• The second Greenberg's listing reads: "Intergalactic, distributor, 1987. 'Spock Is Dead?' poster. Same close-up photo as Lincoln #P2170 with addition of small tear in Spock’s eye and small lettering in lower right. 24" x 36"." Presumably, "Intergalactic" here refers to Intergalactic Trading Company, a distributor of sci-fi collectibles.
• A few issues with this description: 1) Although it does appear in some form in the 1987 Lincoln catalog, the copyright date on this poster is 1982. 2) The tear is not a new addition with this version — in fact, as we can see in the catalog scan above, Lincoln titled their text-free poster "The Tear." 3) Image source gives dimensions as 22.25" x 34", not 24" x 36". Is there a third version of this poster?
• The Official Price Guide lists this poster simply as "Spock is dead? Star Trek II poster, Lincoln Enterprises."

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan Italian Locandina (1982)

Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (aka Star Trek II: L'ira di Khan) Italian theatrical release poster. Tagline: "Ai confini dell'universo, si prepara l'inizio della vendetta." (Automatic translation: "At the edge of the universe, the beginning of vengeance is being prepared.")  Be sure to click the image above for a hi-resolution version!

Size: Italian Locandina (13" x 27")
Artist/Illustrator: Bob Peak
Release Year: 1982
Region: Italy
Notes:  

• This art/design is very similar to the Italian 2-Fogli for Star Trek II, but printed on the locandina size and paper stock, which had blank space at the top for local theaters to write or paste their name and film showtimes, etc.
• The Wrath of Khan was released in Italy October 22, 1982.
• See this post for a closer look at this artwork, including text-free images and preliminary concepts.