This year, for the first time,Darth Vader’s original lightsaber fromThe Empire Strikes BackandReturn of the Jediwill become available at auction. Propstore, the leading experts in collecting and auctioning film props and memorabilia, will present this incredibleStar Warscollectible on September 4 in LA.ScreenRantwas among the first to see Vader’s original trilogy-era lightsaber up close.
Attending a Propstore press event in London, I was lucky enough to view multiple pieces of iconic film memorabilia, including an original, working neuralyzer from the firstMen in Blackfilm, Jane Fonda’s costume fromBarbarella, a shark-toothed clapperboard fromJaws, Harrison Ford’s whip fromIndiana Jones and the Last Crusade, and Sauron’s helmet fromThe Lord of the Rings: The Fellowship of the Ring.
While it was exciting to see all these beautiful, soon-to-be-auctioned pieces in such an intimate setting, the real star of the show wasDarth Vader’s lightsaber.Vader is, after all, one of the most recognizable villains in science-fiction history, and his menacing,red-bladed lightsaberis an inextricable extension of his character. It represents his connection to the dark side of the Force.
Seeing the lightsaber at the event, knowing what it means to so many fans and the art of cinema in general, made this an unforgettable experience. The detail was astounding, and there’s so much to learn about this incredible, timelessStar Warsprop.
10Darth Vader’s Lightsaber Is More Valuable Than I Could Have Ever Imagined
Realistically, I know that any genuine prop from anyStar Warsmoviewill be valued at a high price; it’s one of the most successful and popular cinematic franchises of all time. And yet, this version of Darth Vader’s lightsaber is more valuable than I ever thought possible.
Propstore has estimated its worth at between $1 million and $3 million, though there’s a real possibility it will be sold for more on the day of the auction. When I spoke to Brandon Alinger, Propstore’s COO, and asked him whether the lightsaber’s value might rise above that, he responded:
“It certainly has the potential to. You know, the interesting thing about auctions is you don’t know what things are going to sell for until you get to that auction day. It’s anybody’s guess, really, what it will go for.”
9This Is One Of Only A Few Genuine, Film-Used Lightsabers To Have Ever Been Put Up For Auction
Propstore’s Darth Vader Hero Lightsaber is one of only a few genuine, proven film-used lightsabers to have ever been put up for auction. What’s even more special about this particular lightsaber is that it’s both screen-matched and photo-matched, meaning that the details on this prop can be explicitly seen inEmpireandReturn of the Jediand their production stills.
Alinger explained:
“This is one of the primary lightsabers used in the original Star Wars films… It’s the one that they actually mounted a prop blade on and the actors used for those duel sequences, which are the highlights of the films. It’s one of the most significant Star Wars artifacts to ever come to auction.”
More specifically, this lightsaber was used duringLuke and Vader’s Cloud City duel inEmpire, as well as during the"majority"of the duel sequence between Luke and Vader on the Death Star inJedi.That means this particular lightsaber has been used in some ofStar Wars’most important scenes: those that embody the fight between good and evil and the relationship between father and son.
8It’s Possible Vader’s Lightsaber Was Also Used In A New Hope
While Propstore’s specialists were able to definitively verify that this Darth Vader Hero Lightsaber was used in bothEmpireandJedi, they haven’t been able to prove beyond a doubt that it was also used in the firstStar Warsmovie. Even so, despite limited photo evidence, it remains possible that this lightsaber was originally used as a bladeless hilt prop in what was later retitledA New Hope.
7Two Versions Of Darth Vader’s Lightsaber Were Made For Filming
There are two versions of Darth Vader’s lightsaber. Propstore’s Hero Lightsaber was specifically made for dueling sequences, and another was made to function solely as a hilt, which could be clipped onto Vader’s costume when needed. What makes the lightsaber being showcased by Propstore so special, among other things, is the modifications that allowed for a blade to be attached.
Solid aluminum cylinders were inserted into the handle to handle the extra weight and movement necessary for filming dueling scenes whenever one of the 39" blades was attached. These blades were made from found objects, like billiard cues, and painted over in white to help the animators create the lightsaber’s trademark glow effect.
6Multiple Blades Were Needed To Film Empire’s Frenetic Choreography
Dueling is a dangerous art, so one lightsaber blade per lightsaber hilt was never going to be enough during production. Alinger mentioned that there were"issues where the blades would break, and they would need to change them out,“so multiple blades had to be used throughout filming. Interestingly, though, Propstore’s information packets confirmed that there are"no known original blade props in private collections today.”
There’s a massive difference betweenVader’s lightsaber duelsseen inA New Hopeand those inThe Empire Strikes BackandReturn of the Jedi.The movements were much faster, and the sets were more complicated. It’s no surprise that production needed more than one lightsaber blade and hilt, though nothing compares to the fanatic energy of the lightsaber duels in George Lucas' prequel trilogy.
5The “Damage” On The Lightsaber Adds To The Value
For the most part, collectors want their collectibles to be in mint condition. Scratches, dents, and paint chips normally decrease the value of art, miniatures, and figurines. The opposite is true here. There are numerous small damages to Darth Vader’s Hero Lightsaber, but they only add to the value of the prop, especially in terms of historical significance.
Propstore’s appraisers were able to use the damage to prove that this was an original lightsaber used during production and in the final film. Sian Taylor, Propstore’s UK Director of Operations, excitedly mentioned the"scratches to the hilt"and the"big dent on the bottom"and how they matched up to the available visuals fromEmpireandJedi.
4How Darth Vader’s Lightsaber Was Made
Anyone who has ever watched theLight & Magicdocumentary on Disney+ will know that the artists behind the originalStar Warstrilogy’s visual effects were an incredibly talented, creative, and resourceful group of people. Darth Vader’s lightsaber is a testament to their endless ingenuity.
Vintage press cameras, those that unfold like an accordion, were often fitted with camera flash attachments. Vader’s lightsaber hilt was made from one such camera flash handle attachment, as produced by Micro Precision Products. Some of the flash handle’s original features became part of Vader’s lightsaber design, including the"black shroud at the top and the center band and the clamp."
3Who Used This Incredible Darth Vader Lightsaber?
Famously, it took three people to bring the character of Darth Vader to life: bodybuilder and actor David Prowse, whose imposing 6 ft 6" frame perfectly captured Vader’s menacing presence, stunt performer Bob Anderson, and the voice of the late, legendary James Earl Jones. The lightsaber being auctioned by Propstore was used by both Prowse and Anderson during production onThe Empire Strikes BackandReturn of the Jedi.
2How Darth Vader’s Lightsaber Has Survived For Decades
So, how is it possible that a movie prop with so much historical importance and eye-watering monetary value has been kept out of the public eye for all these years? Taylor explained,“Essentially, someone called up, I think, on a Friday afternoon, and was like, ‘Oh, I’ve got this thing that I think is from Star Wars. Had it for years and years and years. Don’t know what character it’s from.'”
Propstore’s COO was instrumental in identifying the found object as Vader’s lightsaber. Taylor continued,“Brandon [Alinger] is the biggest Star Wars guy in the world. He has written books about Star Wars. So they had a quick chat about it, they sent through some photos, and I think within minutes, Brandon had identified it as a dueling lightsaber.”
Alinger also revealed that the individual selling the prop had it for decades, and that"This is the first time it’s seen the light of day, really. He’s had it stored in his garage."
1Modern Star Wars Lightsabers Are Very Different
VFX has come a long way since the pioneering days of the originalStar Warstrilogy. At the time, they had several different ideas about how to bring lightsabers to life on screen. They originally attempted to create the lightsaber’s all-important glow using an in-camera effect by wrapping a reflective material around the blade that reflected light back at the camera.
Additionally, they installed a small motor in the handle to make the blades spin quickly enough to create pulsing flashes of light. This effect wasn’t good enough, however, and animators were brought in to add the iconic colored glow over the white prop blades. This technique continued to be used and adapted throughoutStar Wars’history.
Nowadays, lightsaber blades can be illuminated while on set. OnAhsoka, for instance,the lightsaber blades are lit from within with LED lights, which allow the crew to light the scenes around the weapon’s natural glow. Getting this new technology to a usable point took some time, though.Obi-Wan Kenobistruggled with getting the lighting in certain scenes right with these new lightsabers.
We wouldn’t have those lightsabers today without the successful and innovative design and creation of Vader’s originalStar Warslightsaber, however. This is a truly historical find, and it’s wonderful thatDarth Vader’s original lightsaber has been unearthed during such a transitional period inStar Wars’long legacy.
Darth Vader’s Hero Lightsaber and more iconic film props will be showcased during Propstore’s Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction between September 4 and 6 in Los Angeles.
