Darth Vader's lightsaber from iconic Star Wars duel sells for record $4.875m
A lightsaber prop used by Darth Vader in the original Star Wars trilogy sold for a record $4.875 million at a Heritage Auctions event. This sale sets a new benchmark for Star Wars memorabilia, surpassing previous records for props and posters.
Why it matters
It highlights the massive economic value of pop culture collectibles and the enduring market for film history.
A lightsaber used by Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi sold for $4.875 million on Thursday, 12 November, a price that Heritage Auctions says is a world record for any Star Wars collectible. The blade went under the hammer at the Ultimate Star Wars Auction held by the auction house that day.A record price surpassing previous highs for Star Wars collectiblesThe sale of the lightsaber has surpassed the auction house’s own previous record by about $1 million. That record was $3,875,000, paid for Tom Jung’s original half-sheet key poster painting for Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. The lightsaber also set a new benchmark for screen-used Star Wars props.
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