Star wars fans Darth Vaders lightsaber up for auction

A Galaxy of History: Darth Vader’s Iconic Lightsaber Heads to Auction With Million‑Dollar Estimate

Los Angeles, August 2025 — In what’s arguably the most epic auction for any film memorabilia in decades, Darth Vader’s original lightsaber from The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Return of the Jedi (1983) is slated to be sold by Propstore this September in Los Angeles, commanding an astronomical estimate between $1 million and $3 million.

This extraordinary relic of cinema history—the so‑called “hero” lightsaber used by both David Prowse and his stunt double, Bob Anderson, in pivotal lightsaber duels—has never before been offered publicly. Propstore’s COO, Brandon Alinger, called it a “grail‑level piece, worthy of the finest collections in the world”.

A Blade Forged for the Screen

Far more than a toy, this saber was ingeniously crafted using a British press camera flash handle. The prop was embellished with plastic grips, wiring, and a circuit board adorned with calculator-style magnifying bubbles—and a wooden rod affixed with an allen bolt served as the blade during choreographed fight scenes, later enhanced with the glowing effect in post‑production. Notably, the hilt bears distinctive wear and damage that matches production stills from both films, confirming its unmistakable authenticity.

Tours, Tinseltown, and Timeless Appeal

Before it finds a new home, the saber will embark on an international press tour this August—visiting London, New York, and Beverly Hills—designed to build buzz ahead of the live auction. The timing couldn’t be more apropos, coinciding with the 45th anniversary of The Empire Strikes Back.

This once-in-a-lifetime sale isn’t happening in isolation: the auction catalog also features other legendary props like Indiana Jones’s bullwhip and belt from The Last Crusade, Sauron’s helmet from The Lord of the Rings, and even the neuralyzer from Men in Black.

Among the Rarest of Stars

Screen-used lightsabers are exceedingly rare. A Luke Skywalker saber brought in $450,000 at auction in 2017, and Obi-Wan’s and Anakin’s lightsabers also fetched six-figure bids. But a hero lightsaber from the original trilogy, with verified on-screen use, hitting the auction block for the first time? That elevates this to an extraordinary milestone for Star Wars collectors—and pop-culture historians.

“This lightsaber is simply everything you want it to be—one of the most significant Star Wars artifacts ever,” Alinger remarked, likening it to Judy Garland’s ruby slippers in modern film lore