Darth Vader’s primary duelling lightsaber from ‘The Empire Strikes Back’ and ‘Return of the Jedi’ is expected to sell for as much as $3 million.

Propstore

Darth Vader’s primary duelling lightsaber is expected to sell for as much as $3 million when it goes up for auction in Los Angeles in September. The item, used in the climactic battle of both The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi, is the crown jewel in the Propstore sale.

Photo-matched to the pivotal scenes in sci-fi classics, the iconic item is the only verified “hero” Vader lightsaber ever to come to market. It’s one of over 1,000 lots that will go under the hammer at the sale, which will take place at The Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles on Thursday, September 4, 2025. The items in the Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction have an estimated total value of $10 million.

Anyone wanting to catch a glimpse of movie history before the action will be able to see the lightsaber as part of a press tour that will stop in London, New York, and Beverly Hills in August.

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Propstore auctions have a long history of getting top dollar for Star Wars items. In 2022, a screen-matched X-wing fighter miniature used in the first film sold for $2.3 million. In 2024, the company also sold the private collection of C3-PO himself, Anthony Daniels. However, they are not the only ones to be handling these items.

A Stormtrooper stunt helmet from Star Wars: A New Hope recently sold for $256,000 at an event organized by Julien’s Auctions and Turner Classic Movies at San Diego’s Comic-Con Museum. Described as the world’s most extensive collection of Star Wars items, the lots were pulled together via various collectors, fans, and franchise insiders.

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“We’ve assembled one of the most impressive selections of authentic props and costumes ever brought to market – pieces of genuine cultural history that continue to inspire awe decades after their debut,” enthuses Brandon Alinger, Propstore COO, looking ahead to their September event. “Whether it’s the craftsmanship of an original Batsuit, the power of a Star Wars lightsaber, each item tells a story. We’re proud to offer this exceptional collection and to give collectors and fans a rare opportunity to claim a tangible piece of the films and shows that shaped our imaginations.”

The Batsuit Alinger refers to is the second most highly priced lot in the auction. Worn by Michael Keaton in director Tim Burton’s 1989 classic comic book movie, Batman, the costume, described as being “exceptional quality,” has an estimate of $250,000 to $500,000 (£186,567 to £373,134).

The item expected to go for the third-highest sum is Indiana Jones’ eight-foot bullwhip, belt, and whip holster used by Harrison Ford in Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade. That is expected to find a new home for between $250,000 and $500,000 (£186,567 to £373,134).

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Batman is far from the only superhero represented in the auction. Tobey Maguire’s Spider-Man costume from the 2002 movie is expected to swing to a new owner for $100,000 to $200,000 (£76,627 to £149,253). Also looking to get in on the action is a production-made Deadpool mask which comes with a $12,000 to $24,000 price tag (£8,955 to £17,910) and at a slightly higher price point, Captain America’s shield as used by Chris Evans in Avengers: Age of Ultron is set to assemble in a new secret headquarters for somewhere in the region of $60,000 to $120,000 (£44,776 to £89,552)

Sci-fi fans continue to be well served with items from Star Trek: The Next Generation up for grabs, as well as Ellen Ripley’s practical SFX M240 flamethrower from Aliens, which has an estimated sale price of between $125,000 and $250,000 (£93,283 to £186,567). At the same time, someone will hopefully remember bidding on a screen-matched light-up hero close-up neuralyzer from 1997’s Men in Black, which has a price tag of $75,000 to $150,000 (£55,970 to £111,940).

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If classic Hollywood sci-fi is more your style, then Jane Fonda’s screen and photo-matched costume from Barbarella will probably catch your attention. That has an estimated sale price of $20,000 to $40,000 (£14,925 to £29,850). Staying with classic Hollywood and landmark movies, perfectly timed for the film’s 50th anniversary, a shark tooth clapperboard from Jaws will likely be snapped up for between $40,000 and $80,000 (£29,850 and £59,700).

Propstore’s three-day Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction kicks off at 10:00 AM PDT / 6:00 PM BST each day. The first day of the auction features in-room bidding open to the public at The Petersen Automotive, while subsequent days are online bidding only. Global online, absentee, and telephone bids will be accepted throughout the event, and registration is now open. Once registered, you’ll be able to check out the other 9,980-plus items that are also listed in the auction.