In a galaxy not so far away—right here on Earth, in fact—a relic from a different time is making headlines and setting collectors’ hearts ablaze. The lightsaber wielded by none other than Darth Vader during some of his most unforgettable moments in “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi” is set to go under the hammer at Propstore, an auction house celebrated for its star-studded catalog of entertainment memorabilia. The buzz surrounding this event is almost as palpable as the tension felt when Vader, with his iconic respirator sounds, steps onto the screen.
The lightsaber is no mere piece of film detritus. With an eyebrow-raising estimate that’s between $1 million and $3 million, it stands as a testament to the enduring allure of Star Wars and its haunted villain. Some pieces of cinematic history are meant to be displayed in pristine glass cases, and some are meant to be wielded by dark lords of the Sith; this piece, however, was used in both capacities. Ahead of the big event, this “hero” lightsaber will partake in a glitzy press tour, gracing cities such as London, Los Angeles, and New York. Like a rockstar on a reunion tour, it promises to captivate audiences once more, coinciding with the fortuitous 45th anniversary of “The Empire Strikes Back.”
Why such a hullabaloo, you ask? Well, Propstore assures us that this is the only verifiable screen-used Darth Vader hero lightsaber from the original trilogy ever to be offered at public auction. It’s the only one of its kind to feature on this galactic stage, a prop brandished not only by David Prowse, the man behind the helmet, but also his agile stunt double, Bob Anderson. Together, they lent gravitas to the lightsaber’s already monumental legacy.
“This lightsaber is simply everything you want it to be—one of the most significant Star Wars artifacts ever,” exclaims Brandon Alinger, Propstore’s chief operating officer. It’s his mic-drop moment in summarizing the piece’s cultural heft. Likening it to the historic significance of the Ruby Slippers from “The Wizard of Oz,” Alinger paints a vivid picture: these slippers famously tiptoed into auction history with a swooping sale price of $32.5 million. The message is clear: some props, like characters, become legends.
While past transactions offer a window into the astronomical valuation of Star Wars relics, they reveal an eager market clamoring for nostalgic tidbits. Who can forget the $450,000 price tag for Mark Hamill’s Luke Skywalker lightsaber in 2017? Equally eye-watering figures were handed over for the lightsabers of Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen (that’s Obi-Wan Kenobi and Anakin Skywalker to you, young padawan), whose Jedi weaponry lulled collectors into a state of purchase-induced euphoria.
Within the realm of collectibles, Star Wars memorabilia remains the gold standard, shimmering with the same glow as neon lightsabers clashing on the big screen. Disney’s prowess in merchandising sees no end, with Star Wars merchandise sales astoundingly clocking over $1 billion in 2024 alone. The franchise as a whole raked in over $12 billion last year. All hail Darth Vader—a figure so indelibly etched into the cultural psyche that he stands as pop culture’s uncrowned king and the very definition of intimidation. With Empire magazine crowning him the most iconic movie villain ever, Vader claims immortality like few characters—and now, his legacy extends right to your living room (provided you’ve got a couple of million dollars spare).
The upcoming auction, for those invested in such narratives, is truly a chance to weave oneself into the fabric of cinematic history. It’s not just about bidding on a prop; it’s about cradling a piece of a story that shifted the axis of pop culture. When the final bid is announced and the gavel falls, a new chapter will be penned for Darth Vader’s lightsaber, and one fan will possess not a mere artifact, but a tactile link to a saga beloved by millions, spanning generations as not many tales could. Who among us can say they own one of cinema’s most famous weapons? Soon, one lucky soul can. Here’s to that fortunate individual, who will forever own a relic of a bygone era made of stardust, storytelling, and a touch of The Force.
