Heritage Auctions, based in Dallas, Texas, announced that the primary dueling lightsaber wielded by Darth Vader in the 1980 s classic The Empire Strikes Back sold for $4.87 million on Thursday. The prop, used by actor David Prowse and stunt double Bob Anderson, was featured in the famous Cloud City duel where Vader delivers the line “I am your father.”
Record‑breaking sale
The $4.87 million price tag makes this the most expensive piece of Star Wars memorabilia ever sold at auction. The previous record was held by another lightsaber from the same Cloud City fight, which fetched $3.75 million earlier this year. The auction catalog noted that the lightsaber shows damage consistent with use as a working prop, including scratches, a crack, a missing portion of the upper shroud and a partially broken grip.
Prop history and construction
While many of the original trilogy’s lightsabers were repurposed flash holders from vintage cameras, this particular prop was modified to support a prop blade and endure the rigors of combat filming. The iconic glow seen on screen was added later in post‑production by artists, frame by frame. The catalog could not confirm whether the lightsaber also appeared in the 1977 film A New Hope, but said it was possible.
Other notable items in the sale
Heritage Auctions’ “Ultimate Star Wars” sale featured nearly 200 items, including a rifle used by Boba Fett that sold for $375,000 and a miniature model of a Snowspeeder previously owned by Carrie Fisher, which fetched $200,000. The auction also offered 27 additional lightsabers, such as those used by Ewan McGregor’s Obi‑Wan Kenobi and Daisy Ridley’s Rey. The highest‑priced lightsabers after Vader’s were those wielded by Ray Park’s Darth Maul and Hayden Christensen’s Anakin Skywalker, each selling for $162,500.
Market context
Other high‑value Star Wars props have attracted multi‑million‑dollar bids, including a miniature Red Leader X‑wing sold for over $3.13 million in 2023 and a complete R2‑D2 unit that fetched $2.75 million in 2017. The Dallas auction underscores the continued appetite among collectors for iconic film memorabilia, especially items tied to culturally significant moments.
Heritage Auctions expects to continue featuring rare entertainment collectibles in future sales, catering to both dedicated fans and serious investors.
Original reporting: WPBF West Palm Beach — read the source article.
