The original lightsaber used by Darth Vader in “Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back” (1980) and its sequel “Star Wars: Return of the Jedi” (1983) has been sold at a Propstore auction for an astounding $3,654,000. This sale marks a historic moment in film collecting, making it the highest-priced “Star Wars” item ever sold at auction, surpassing pre-sale expectations. The prop, which was originally a modified old flash camera attachment, holds unique significance as the only hero lightsaber from these iconic films with verifiable screen use ever to be offered at public auction.

Originally wielded by actor David Prowse, who played Darth Vader, and also used by stunt performer Bob Anderson, the lightsaber was famously featured in crucial scenes, including the memorable confrontation in “The Empire Strikes Back” where Vader reveals his true relationship to Luke Skywalker. Brandon Alinger, Propstore COO, commented on the sale, stating, “The result marks a landmark moment not just for Propstore, but for the entire world of film collecting. To see a ‘Star Wars’ lightsaber — the symbol of one of cinema’s greatest sagas — become the highest-valued piece of the franchise ever sold at auction is incredibly special. It speaks to the enduring cultural power of ‘Star Wars’ and the passion of fans and collectors who see these artifacts as touchstones of modern mythology.”

The auction, held at the Petersen Museum in Los Angeles, featured a vast array of other coveted movie memorabilia alongside the record-breaking lightsaber. Among the top sellers was the bullwhip, belt, and whip holster used by Harrison Ford in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade,” which commanded $485,100. Leonardo DiCaprio’s flamethrower from “Once Upon a Time in Hollywood” fetched $346,500, and the iconic Platform 9 3/4 sign from the “Harry Potter” franchise sold for $138,600.

Further highlighting the diverse appeal of film artifacts, other notable items included the screen-matched light-up hero close-up Neuralyzer from “Men In Black” (1997) for $315,000, Clayton Moore’s promotional Lone Ranger Stetson Hat for $302,400, and Spider-Man’s (Tobey Maguire) costume from “Spider-Man” (2002) for $289,800. Sauron’s (Sala Baker) Helmet from “The Lord Of The Rings: The Fellowship Of The Ring” (2001) also sold for $289,900, and Ellen Ripley’s (Sigourney Weaver) practical SFX M240 Flamethrower from “Aliens” (1986) went for $252,000.

The auction continued to attract significant bids for items like the animatronic Billy Puppet with remote from “Saw III” (2006) for $176,400, Jon Snow’s (Kit Harington) stunt Longclaw Sword from “Game of Thrones” for $94,500, John Rambo’s (Sylvester Stallone) Compound Bow from “Rambo III” (1988) for $94,500, and the Shark Tooth Clapperboard from “Jaws” (1975) also for $94,500. Captain America’s (Chris Evans) Shield from “Avengers: Age Of Ultron” (2015) sold for $85,050. Even smaller, yet iconic, pieces like Elizabeth Swann’s (Keira Knightley) screen-matched Dusty Cursed Aztec Medallion Necklace from “Pirates Of The Caribbean: The Curse Of The Black Pearl” (2003) and Harry Potter’s (Daniel Radcliffe) Marauder’s Map Scene SFX Light-Up Hero Wand from “Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban” (2004) both sold for $81,900, demonstrating the depth of collector interest across various franchises.