Vader's lightsaber hits auction

A lightsaber hilt used by Darth Vader in two of the original 'Star Wars' films is going to auction with a starting bid of more than $1 million. The item is part of a larger collection of movie props offered by Heritage Auctions.

Brian Chanes, Senior Director of Hollywood and Entertainment at Heritage Auctions, described the grouping as unique in his 35 years of experience. He stated he has never seen a compilation of screen-used lightsabers spanning from the original franchise to the sequels.

The collection includes other notable items from the franchise. These pieces consist of Chewbacca's bowcaster from 'Star Wars: The Force Awakens' and Boba Fett's rifle from his film debut. The lot also features artwork signed by cast members. Heritage Auctions officials said all props were vetted and include certifications proving their authenticity.

Chanes noted that the Boba Fett rifle has a photo serial number match and was used by actor Jeremy Bulloch during his debut appearance in 'The Empire Strikes Back'.

The primary item of interest is the lightsaber hilt wielded by Darth Vader in 'The Empire Strikes Back' and 'Return of the Jedi'. Chanes identified this specific prop as the one used in the scene where Vader severed Luke Skywalker's hand. He referred to the item as the holy grail of memorabilia because of its role in that sequence.

The auction goes live on Nov. 12 at www.ha.com. Chanes attributed the high valuations of such items to the personal memories they evoke for fans. He explained that the memorabilia portion of the word refers to the memories of first seeing the films.