Darth Vader's lightsaber sells for $4.875 million, a Star Wars auction record
Photo: The GuardianA lightsaber used by Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi sold for $4.875 million, nearly $5 million, at the Ultimate Star Wars Auction run by Heritage Auctions in the United States on Thursday. The prop was used in the Cloud City duel, where Vader tells Luke Skywalker he is his father. Heritage said the sale set world auction records for any Star Wars collectible and for a screen-used Star Wars prop, surpassing the $3.75 million July sale of Luke Skywalker's lightsaber and severed hand rig from The Empire Strikes Back. Twenty-seven other lightsabers were offered, along with material from Star Wars Episodes I through IX. Heritage senior director Brian Chanes said the piece is the one used on set and called it like the Holy Grail to collectors.
Right-leaning coverage, represented by the Washington Times, is limited to a short excerpt that reports the Thursday sale for nearly $5 million and frames it through the films and the "I am your father" duel, without the exact figure, the auction house or any record claim. Left-leaning outlets report the same sale in more detail. The Guardian leads with the price and the record, quotes Chanes, notes the July sale, and lists the 27-lightsaber lineup, including props tied to Ewan McGregor and Hayden Christensen. CBS leads with the Cloud City duel, the record claims and the Episodes I through IX material. The alternative Times of India emphasizes the record for props and poster art and the largest lightsaber collection offered, framing it around rising demand. All three agree on the price, the auction and the Vader prop. They differ in detail: the right excerpt rounds the price and omits the record claims that the left and alternative outlets cite.
How the sides differ Left sources stress records and collector interest; alternative sources stress demand; right sources report the sale in brief.
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The Guardian and CBS lead with the nearly $5 million sale and the record claims, citing Heritage Auctions and senior director Brian Chanes. The Guardian adds the July comparison and the lineup of other props.
The Times of India leads with the $4.875 million record and its surpassing of prop and poster art records. It stresses the largest lightsaber collection offered and rising demand.
The Washington Times excerpt leads with the nearly $5 million sale and frames it through the films and the "I am your father" duel. The excerpt quotes no sources and gives no exact figure.