The original Darth Vader lightsaber used in the filming of two films of the classic Star Wars trilogy has sold at auction for a record $4.875 million.
The auction took place on 12 November in Dallas. The result proved especially symbolic on the eve of the franchise's 50th anniversary.
The prop in question was used in the films Star Wars: Episode 5 – The Empire Strikes Back (1980) and Star Wars: Episode 6 – Return of the Jedi (1983). It was with this very sword that Vader fought Luke Skywalker in the famous duel in Cloud City, which ended with one of the best-known plot twists in cinema history. It was then that the Dark Lord uttered the now-famous line: "No. I am your father."
The same prop later appeared in the final confrontation between Vader and Luke in the Emperor's throne room in Return of the Jedi. During filming it was used by David Prowse, who played Vader in the costume, and by stunt fencer Bob Anderson.
The sale was organised by the auction house Heritage Auctions. Experts had initially expected the lot to fetch more than $1 million, but the final sum turned out to be almost five times higher. The sale set a new world record for items from the Star Wars universe, as well as for on-screen props from the franchise.
The previous record belonged to Luke Skywalker's lightsaber and a prop of his severed hand from The Empire Strikes Back: in July this set sold for $3.75 million.
