May the Force and property be with you.
The lightsabers wielded by Darth Vader in the final two films of the original “Star Wars” trilogy are set to be auctioned off, along with a variety of other franchise memorabilia, with projections suggesting they could fetch millions.
The main duel lightsaber, used by the iconic villain in “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi,” will be available for bidding in September via a Los Angeles auction house, with expected sales figures ranging from $1 million to $3 million.
This particular lightsaber is noteworthy as it will be the first of its kind from the original trilogy to enter the market; previous lightsabers have typically remained within museums. For example, Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber from “The Empire Strikes Back” is currently held by a different collector.
“The real lightsaber props from the original trilogy are incredibly scarce, and Propstore feels privileged to present this historic piece at the upcoming sale. It’s truly a grail-level item, perfect for the finest collections,” a representative stated.
Beginning in August, Propstore will embark on a promotional tour spanning London to New York, eventually culminating in Beverly Hills, where the lightsaber will be auctioned to the highest bidder.
Interestingly, the auction coincides with the 45th anniversary of “The Empire Strikes Back.”
This tour will also showcase notable props from other beloved films, such as the whips and belts Harrison Ford wore in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” along with memory-wiping gadgets from “Men in Black.”
Adding to its lineup, Propstore will feature various relics from the “Star Wars” franchise, including a gift presented to the crew after the filming wrapped and a replica of Qui-Gon Jinn’s lightsaber, portrayed by Liam Neeson in the prequels.
Darth Vader’s dueling lightsabers were expertly handled on-screen by the late actor David Prowse and stunt double Bob Anderson. The character’s voice was famously provided by James Earl Jones.
In 2022, Han Solo’s blaster from “A New Hope” was sold for $1 million; it’s one of only three surviving models from the trilogy. In a separate auction, a 1970s Boba Fett action figure went for an astounding $525,000 in June 2024.
