A lightsaber prop wielded by Darth Vader in the films 'The Empire Strikes Back' and 'Return of the Jedi' has been sold for $4.875 million at auction. Heritage Auctions confirmed the sale, which took place on Thursday, setting a new world record for any Star Wars collectible and a new auction record for a screen-used Star Wars prop.
The prop was used by David Prowse and Bob Anderson as the Sith lord, specifically in the climactic Cloud City duel where Vader tells Luke Skywalker, “I am your father.” The previous record for a screen-used Star Wars prop was $3.75 million, set in July for Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber and severed hand-effects rig from 'The Empire Strikes Back'.
The wider Thursday sale, run by Heritage Auctions, also featured 27 other Star Wars lightsabers, including those used by Ewan McGregor’s Obi-Wan Kenobi and Hayden Christensen’s Anakin Skywalker in 'Revenge of the Sith'. Material from Star Wars Episodes I through IX, along with additional films and TV shows, was also part of the auction.