Star Encounters Vol. 1 No. 3 (Aug. 1978) Jason & the Argonauts Feature

Item Details

New York, Stories, Layouts & Press, Inc.,, Aug. 1978, Magazine

Very Good

A scarce issue of the short-lived Star Encounters magazine, signed by Ray Harryhausen in blue ink across the double-page feature devoted to Jason and the Argonauts.

The signature appears on the celebrated skeleton-battle spread, directly linking Harryhausen to one of the defining achievements of his career. Combining contemporary genre journalism with an authentic period signature, the magazine is an appealing artifact of fantasy cinema's resurgence during the post-Star Wars era.

PHYSICAL DESCRIPTION: Quarto; approximately 10.75 × 8 inches; 66 pages.
+++ Signed by Ray Harryhausen in blue ink across the double-page Jason and the Argonauts feature. The signature remains bold, clean, and unfaded.
+++ Perfect-bound in the original full-color pictorial wrappers, priced $1.50 on the front cover.
+++ Illustrated throughout with black-and-white and color photographs from contemporary science fiction and fantasy films.

CONDITION: Very Good. The binding remains tight and square. Pages are clean with mild, even age-toning typical of the paper stock. Covers show moderate shelf handling, light rubbing along the spine, and a small stress crease near the lower corner. The signed Jason and the Argonauts center spread is exceptionally bright and well preserved.

HISTORICAL SIGNIFICANCE: A CELEBRATION OF FANTASY CINEMA —
 Published in August 1978, Star Encounters appeared during the renewed popularity of science fiction and fantasy films following the phenomenal success of Star Wars. The magazine sought to introduce readers to both contemporary productions and the classic films that inspired a new generation of filmmakers and fans.

RAY HARRYHAUSEN'S DEFINING ACHIEVEMENT.
Michael Woodin's feature on Jason and the Argonauts revisits Columbia Pictures' theatrical re-release of Harryhausen's 1963 fantasy classic. The article highlights the groundbreaking stop-motion animation that transformed visual effects, particularly the legendary skeleton battle—widely regarded as one of the most influential sequences in fantasy cinema.

AN UNCOMMON SIGNED PERIODICAL.
Ray Harryhausen's autograph is most often encountered on books, photographs, or lobby cards. Signed contemporary magazines are encountered far less frequently, particularly examples signed directly on an article devoted to his own work. The placement of the signature within the feature itself creates a compelling association between the autograph and one of Harryhausen's most celebrated artistic accomplishments.

CONTENT HIGHLIGHTS
+++ Signed by Ray Harryhausen on the Jason and the Argonauts feature.
+++ Michael Woodin's illustrated article on Jason and the Argonauts.
+++ "Roddenberry: Beyond Star Trek."
+++ "The Films of Ray Bradbury."
+++ "Strange Apes in Science Fiction."
+++ Coverage of Flash Gordon and contemporary fantasy cinema.

Acquired from the estate of Jeri Kandel of Sarasota, Florida. An aspiring science fiction and horror writer, Kandel was active in Florida's science fiction and fantasy community, volunteered at DragonCon and other regional conventions, and participated in ASFA activities. During decades of convention attendance she assembled a notable collection of authentic author, artist, and film-related signatures, providing excellent contextual provenance for this signed magazine.

BIBLIOGRAPHICAL NOTE: Star Encounters was one of several popular culture magazines produced by Magazine Management during the late 1970s. Although short-lived, the publication assembled substantial coverage of science fiction literature, fantasy films, and special effects at a pivotal moment in the genre's growing mainstream popularity.

SUBJECTS: Ray Harryhausen, Jason and the Argonauts, Stop-Motion Animation, Dynamation, Star Encounters Magazine, Gene Roddenberry, Ray Bradbury, Fantasy Films, Science Fiction Cinema, Special Effects, Magazine Ephemera, Signed Magazine, Science Fiction; Fantasy Cinema; Film History; Movie Memorabilia; Signed Ephemera; Magazines & Periodicals.

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