A Darth Vader lightsaber used during the climactic Cloud City duel in The Empire Strikes Back, where the villain reveals he is Luke Skywalker’s father, is heading to auction with an expected price tag of at least $1 million. Heritage Auctions will offer the prop on November 12 as part of its Ultimate Star Wars Auction.
The Darth Vader Saber and Ultimate Star Wars Auction Details
The upcoming auction features more than two dozen lightsaber props spanning Episodes I through IX, alongside other television and film artifacts from the franchise created by George Lucas. The specific Vader lightsaber going under the hammer was also utilized in Return of the Jedi. Alongside the Vader prop, the event includes dueling lightsabers wielded by Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi and Hayden Christensen’s Anakin Skywalker in Revenge of the Sith, which carry expected minimum bids of $10,000 apiece.
Additional Star Wars Props Coming to Heritage Auctions
Collectors will also have the opportunity to bid on several other prominent items from the galaxy far, far away. An EE-3 carbine blaster used by Boba Fett throughout The Empire Strikes Back is estimated to bring in more than $100,000. Other featured items include a Yoda puppet hand operated by Frank Oz during the character’s original appearance in The Empire Strikes Back, a TIE Fighter pilot helmet from Rogue One: A Star Wars Story, and a signed, personal third-draft screenplay for the original 1977 film owned by C-3PO actor Anthony Daniels.
Prior Star Wars Prop Sales at Auction
The million-dollar estimate for the Vader weapon follows a sale earlier in the year. In July, a lightsaber featuring Luke Skywalker’s severed hand from The Empire Strikes Back sold for $3.75 million, marking the highest price ever fetched for a prop used in a Star Wars film according to the auction house.
Collector Questions About the Star Wars Prop Auction
When does the Ultimate Star Wars Auction take place?
The auction is scheduled for November 12 and is hosted by Heritage Auctions, featuring film props spanning Episodes I through IX.
What is the minimum expected price for the Darth Vader lightsaber?
The lightsaber used by Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi is expected to fetch at least $1 million.
Which other characters’ weapons are being auctioned?
The event includes dueling lightsabers from Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker expected to go for at least $10,000 each, plus a Boba Fett EE-3 carbine blaster estimated to bring in over $100,000.