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Darth Vader strikes back at auction as his lightsaber from two original Star Wars films reclaims the record from Luke Skywalker’s prop
Darth Vader’s lightsaber prop sold for $4.875 million (€4.4 million), setting a new auction record for a Star Wars collectible and surpassing the record set by Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber in July. The sale matters because the prop featured in two of the original trilogy’s defining duels between Vader and Luke.
Actor David Prowse and stunt performer Bob Anderson wielded the hilt in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi; its use in the 1977 film is possible but unconfirmed. It was built from a 1950s British camera flash attachment, with added grips and lenses, and auctioneers linked its distinctive marks to production images from the later films.
In short
- Vader’s lightsaber sold for $4.875 million.
- It reclaimed the Star Wars prop auction record from Luke’s.
- The hilt began as a 1950s camera flash attachment.
Explained simply
Darth Vader and Luke Skywalker are central characters in the original Star Wars trilogy, a series of films released between 1977 and 1983. Vader is Luke’s father and a powerful figure in the Empire; their lightsaber duels are important moments in the story.
A lightsaber is the glowing weapon used by Jedi and Sith in the films. The props were made from adapted objects, and this hilt was built around a British camera flash attachment from the 1950s. It is associated with duels in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, though its use in the first film has not been confirmed.
Film props can attract collectors because they connect a physical object to well-known scenes and performers. Auction records offer one measure of their market value, while the item’s history and links to the films help explain its significance to fans.
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