A historic weapon from the “Star Wars” franchise is heading to the auction block this fall. The Darth Vader lightsaber featured during the famous Cloud City duel in “The Empire Strikes Back”—where the villain famously reveals his identity to Luke Skywalker—is scheduled for sale on November 12. Heritage Auctions is hosting the event, titled the Ultimate Star Wars Auction, where the iconic prop is projected to draw bids of at least $1 million. The same prop was also utilized during the filming of “Return of the Jedi.”
This high-profile sale follows a historic milestone set in July, when the lightsaber prop containing Luke Skywalker’s severed hand from “The Empire Strikes Back” sold for a record-breaking $3.75 million. According to the auction house, that transaction marked the highest price ever paid for a prop from George Lucas’s space franchise. Now, collectors have the chance to purchase the opposing weapon from that memorable cinematic clash. Trump donor accuses Guilfoyle of asking him to pay her $100K credit card bill.
The Vader saber is part of a larger collection of more than two dozen lightsaber props representing Episodes I through IX, as well as various other movies and television spin-offs from the franchise. Among the other featured weapons are the individual lightsabers used by Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi and Hayden Christensen’s Anakin Skywalker during their intense battle in “Revenge of the Sith.” These prequel props are expected to fetch at least $10,000 each.
Beyond lightsabers, the auction will showcase several other rare pieces of franchise memorabilia. A Boba Fett EE-3 carbine blaster used throughout “The Empire Strikes Back” is estimated to sell for more than $100,000. Buyers can also bid on a Yoda puppet hand operated by Frank Oz during the character’s introduction in “The Empire Strikes Back,” a TIE Fighter pilot helmet featured in “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story,” and a signed third-draft screenplay for the original 1977 “Star Wars” film, personally owned by C-3PO actor Anthony Daniels.
