In a recent auction held in July, a lightsaber featuring Luke Skywalker’s detached hand from the movie “The Empire Strikes Back” was sold for a record-breaking price of $3.75 million USD. This sale set a new benchmark for the highest amount ever paid for a prop used in a “Star Wars” film, as reported by the auction house.
Now, enthusiasts have the opportunity to acquire the lightsaber that played a crucial role in severing Luke’s hand. The iconic Darth Vader lightsaber, famously used in the intense duel at Cloud City where the memorable line “I am your father” was uttered to Skywalker, will be a highlight of the upcoming Ultimate Star Wars Auction scheduled for November 12 by Heritage Auctions.
Anticipated to command a value of at least $1 million USD, the Vader lightsaber was also featured in “Return of the Jedi.” Over two dozen lightsaber props will be on offer at the auction, covering the entire span of “Star Wars” Episodes I to IX, along with props from other films and TV series within the expansive universe envisioned by George Lucas.
Among the coveted items are the lightsabers wielded by Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi and Hayden Christensen’s Anakin Skywalker in “Revenge of the Sith,” each expected to fetch a minimum of $10,000 USD. Additionally, an EE-3 carbine blaster used by Boba Fett in “The Empire Strikes Back” is estimated to draw over $100,000 USD at the auction.
Notable inclusions are a Yoda puppet hand operated by Frank Oz in the character’s debut in “The Empire Strikes Back,” Anthony Daniels’ autographed personal third-draft screenplay from the original 1977 “Star Wars,” and a TIE Fighter pilot helmet from “Rogue One: A Star Wars Story.”