The excitement surrounding movie memorabilia auctions is a unique blend of exhilaration and disappointment. The thrill of discovering vintage props from iconic films is undeniably captivating, yet the staggering price tags can be disheartening for many fans. Recently reported by The Hollywood Reporter, Propstore is set to auction an authentic piece of Star Wars history: Darth Vader’s lightsaber. This screen-matched lightsaber has a significant legacy, having been wielded by both David Prowse and stunt-double Bob Anderson in the beloved films The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi. The auction estimates suggest this iconic piece could command between $1 million and $3 million, with potential for even higher bids.
“Genuine lightsaber props that survived from the original Star Wars trilogy are incredibly rare, and Propstore is proud to showcase this historic artifact in our September auction,” stated Brandon Alinger, COO of Propstore. “This is a grail-level item, deserving of a place in the most prestigious collections worldwide.”
This remarkable lightsaber is reputed to be “the only hero lightsaber prop from the original Star Wars trilogy with confirmed screen use ever to be made available for public auction and is widely regarded as one of the most coveted items among Star Wars collectors.” Before it finds its new owner, the lightsaber will embark on a three-city press tour, visiting London, New York, and Beverly Hills in August. Accompanying it will be notable items such as a bullwhip and belt worn by Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade, a hero close-up neuralyzer from Men in Black, and Sauron’s helmet from The Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
The description of this iconic lightsaber prop is as follows: “It is crafted from a vintage British press camera flash handle that was ingeniously transformed into Vader’s legendary weapon through the addition of dressing components like plastic grips, calculator bubbles, and cosmetic wiring. This particular prop was further enhanced with a custom blade-mounting system that allowed for the installation of a wooden rod; this rod served as the blade during the choreographed fight sequences, enabling the physical, on-screen dueling to occur. Additionally, it provided a reference for visual effects artists to create the hand-animated glow seen in the final shots.”
Not long ago, Propstore auctioned a screen-matched X-Wing fighter model for an impressive .3 million. It’s remarkable to consider the kind of wealth required to participate in such exclusive auctions.
