zombie84 said:

The novelization was actually released in 1976, before the film! Not 1978.

Kurgan, you're blowing your cover on my pay-off scheme! :p

Yeah, though there were numerous re-releases of the novel. The only thing that ever changed from one edition (other than the cover) is the preface/introduction and the title.

Believe it or not, it was originally titled:

"Star Wars: From the Adventures of Luke Skywalker"

Then somewhere around 1995 it became just "Star Wars." This is how it was in the various anthologies (of all three novels in one).

Then briefly in 1997 it was "Star Wars: A New Hope: Special Edition" (though I may be thinking of the "Special Edition" that was all three novels with a gold "Special Edition Trilogy" image on the cover).

Then it was pretty much "Star Wars: A New Hope" until, iirc, 2004 when it became "Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope" and even has the same Vader image that is on the 2004 DVD box (gold, iirc from the full frame version).

I believe I only have the 1977 version (78?) with the gold cover (and different painting) and "now a major motion picture" on it.

Rumor has it that the very first printing of the book spelled it "lightsabre" instead of the now familiar "lightsaber," but I can't confirm that.

As for the money...

If you give it to me, I might forget I found you. ;)