A Star Wars prop that was used in two of the original films has sold for an astronomical sum at auction.
Darth Vader’s lightsaber, which featured in The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983), went on sale at the Propstore in Los Angeles on Thursday (4 September).
Actor David Prowse and stunt double Bob Anderson both held the item onscreen, which was given a presale estimate of between $1m to $3m.
One lucky, and seemingly wealthy fan secured the winning bid on the lightsaber, which sold for $2,900,000 (£2.1m), making it the most expensive item in the franchise’s history. The price rose to $3.7m (£2.7m) with the additional buyer’s premium that is paid to the auction house.
The lightsaber, which is said to be the only one with verifiable screen use ever to be offered at public auction, was one of more than 400 lots of props and costumes that went on sale on Thursday.
Other notable sales on day one of Propstore’s Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction included the eight-foot bullwhip, belt and whip holster handled by Harrison Ford as the title character in Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade (1989), which fetched $485,100 (£360,260).
Darth Vader’s hero duelling lightsaber (PA)
The Spider-Man suit worn by Tobey Maguire in the 2002 superhero film went for $289,800 (£215,190), while Sir Patrick Stewart’s Ressikan Flute as played by Captain Picard from Star Trek: The Next Generation TV series (1987–1994) and a costume continuity script was sold for $403,200 (£299,400).
The neuralyzer – the device used in Men In Black (1997) to wipe the mind of anybody who sees its flash – went under the hammer for $315,000 (£233,900), while the stunt Longclaw sword used by Kit Harington’s Jon Snow in HBO fantasy series Game Of Thrones went to the highest bidder for $94,500 (£70,170).
The Platform 9 3/4 sign from the Harry Potter films was bought for $138,600 (£102,900), while Daniel Radcliffe’s wand, which featured in scenes in The Prisoner Of Azkaban when he is seen opening the Marauder’s Map, sold for $81,900 (£60,800).
The shark tooth clapperboard, which was used to film Steven Spielberg’s Jaws (1975), which is celebrating its 50th anniversary this year, fetched $94,500 (£70,200).
A total of 433 lots achieved a sales total of $14,302,417 (£10,618,530) – including buyer’s premium – on the first day of the auction, which continues today and tomorrow with more than 600 further items.
Darth Vader is considered to be one of the greatest villains in movie history (PA)
Propstore chief operating officer Brandon Alinger said: “The result marks a landmark moment not just for Propstore, but for the entire world of film collecting.
“To see a Star Wars lightsaber – the symbol of one of cinema’s greatest sagas – become the highest-valued piece of the franchise ever sold at auction is incredibly special.
“It speaks to the enduring cultural power of Star Wars and the passion of fans and collectors who see these artefacts as touchstones of modern mythology.”
Additional reporting by PA.
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