A lightsaber wielded by Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy has been unveiled in London ahead of an auction where it is projected to command a multi-million dollar price.
Featured prominently in the iconic battles of *The Empire Strikes Back* (1980) and *Return Of The Jedi* (1983), the lightsaber is estimated to fetch up to £2.2 million.
The lightsaber is a highlight of an auction comprising over 1,000 lots of film props and costumes, collectively valued at approximately £7.5 million.
This piece of cinematic history was showcased at a private exhibition at the Dorchester in London on Wednesday, preceding Propstore’s auction in Los Angeles, scheduled for September 4-6.
The 1ft (32cm) prop was utilized in scenes by both Darth Vader actor David Prowse and stunt performer Bob Anderson.
According to Propstore’s catalogue, the lightsaber was originally fashioned from a 1950s camera flash bulb attachment, ingeniously repurposed by the production team.
Other notable items slated for auction include Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man suit from the 2002 film and Michael Keaton’s Batsuit from the 1989 Batman.
Maguire’s suit is anticipated to sell for between £75,000 and £150,000, while the Batsuit could reach a price of up to £375,000.
Harrison Ford’s eight-foot bullwhip, belt, and whip holster from *Indiana Jones And The Last Crusade* (1989) are expected to garner between £188,000 and £375,000.
Additionally, various props from the Harry Potter film franchise are included in the auction, such as the Platform 9 ¾ sign, potentially selling for up to £30,000, and Daniel Radcliffe’s wand as Harry Potter from *The Prisoner Of Azkaban*.
The shark tooth clapperboard used during the filming of Steven Spielberg’s *Jaws* (1975), commemorating its 50th anniversary, will also be available, with a pre-sale estimate of £30,000 to £60,000.
Brandon Alinger, COO of Propstore, stated: “Propstore has curated one of the most remarkable collections of authentic props and costumes ever offered – genuine artifacts of cultural history that continue to inspire fascination decades after their initial release.”
“We are delighted to present this exceptional assemblage and provide collectors and enthusiasts with a unique opportunity to acquire a tangible piece of the films and television shows that have profoundly impacted our imaginations.”
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