PHOENIX — A lightsaber Darth Vader wielded in “The Empire Strikes Back” and “Return of the Jedi” sold Thursday for $4.875 million, a world auction record for any “Star Wars” collectible, according to Heritage Auctions, The Associated Press reported.
The prop was used in the climactic Cloud City duel in which Vader tells Luke Skywalker, “I am your father,” according to the auction house.
The sale broke the record Heritage set in July, when Skywalker’s lightsaber and severed-hand effects rig from “The Empire Strikes Back” sold for $3.75 million, the AP reported.
Thursday’s Ultimate Star Wars Auction also included items from Episodes I through IX and other films and TV shows. In all, 27 other lightsabers were offered alongside Vader’s, according to Heritage.
Heritage Auctions is based in Dallas and regularly holds entertainment memorabilia sales.
Sources: CBS News / The Associated Press. Thee Arizona Times uses AI-assisted reporting reviewed against the sources listed.
Photo: Mysid / Public domain via Wikimedia Commons.
