Dust off your lightsabers and polish your helmets because a mesmerizing slice of sci-fi history is about to be unleashed into the collector’s universe. Not just any piece, mind you—this is the lightsaber wielded by none other than the galaxy’s most feared and complex villain, Darth Vader, during his iconic appearances in “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi.” The illustrious Propstore, a mecca for all things entertainment memorabilia, is putting this gem up for bidding this September. And, brace yourself, the price tag is no less than theatrical—between $1 million and $3 million, to be precise.
This upcoming auction isn’t just any ordinary affair; it’s a dramatic tale timed perfectly with the 45th anniversary of “The Empire Strikes Back,” a nod to the film that solidified the Star Wars saga’s place in cinematic lore. The saber will embark on a grand tour, dazzling fans and collectors in locales stretching from London to Los Angeles to New York. Each stop is a chance for admirers to gaze at this illustrious weapon, now a revered relic from the celluloid epic.
What casts this piece into a galaxy all its own is its authenticity. It is said to be the only verifiable screen-used Darth Vader hero lightsaber from the original trilogy ever to make its way to public auction. This isn’t just a fabricated trinket; this is the sword of dark destiny brandished by the actors David Prowse and Bob Anderson, bringing one of cinema’s greatest characters to life. This relic is seasoned with the history of both legends who wore the suit; hence it’s dripping with more Hollywood nostalgia than a Saturday night at the drive-in.
“We’ve got something truly exceptional here,” serenely states Brandon Alinger, the chief operating officer of Propstore, with an excitement that’s almost palpable. “It’s a grail-level piece,” he adds, elevating its stature alongside the likes of Dorothy’s Ruby Slippers, for which movie buffs shelled out a cool $32.5 million. Practically blushing with pride, Alinger gestures to the significance of the lightsaber, an ethereal thread reaching back to the Golden Age of movie magic.
We’ve witnessed Star Wars props cause eager battles at auction before. Notably, Mark Hamill’s lightsaber once prompted a bidding frenzy, finally going Hammer Happy at $450,000. Not to be sidelined, lightsabers gripped by Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen when portraying Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker, respectively, have comfortably cruised past the six-figure zenith.
It’s undeniable—the Star Wars universe has always been a darling in the realm of collectibles. In the halls of merchandising glory, the franchise continues printing money faster than a galactic bank heist, with over $1 billion in merchandise sales just last year and a whopping $12 billion in franchise revenue. Darth Vader remains a stalwart cornerstone in this universe of high-value collecting, an unparalleled symbol weaving culture and nostalgia together into a grand tapestry.
More than just a sale, this is an invitation—a tantalizing chance for collectors to claim a piece of the cinema’s pulsating heart. More profound than coveting a shiny object, it’s a pivotal chance to own a colossal piece of narrative history. As the auctioneer wields their magic, should the gavel fall triumphantly on some lucky bidder, they’ll walk away with what is arguably the cinematographic Excalibur, a cultural artifact that straddles the line between screen prop and immortal legend.
The anticipation is electric, and somewhere, as we count down to the auction date, one must wonder if the Force might just be strong with one lucky soul, granting them the keys to a universe of storytelling magic.