In the expansive world that is sci-fi, few honours trump that of owning some bona fide Star Wars collectables. Beyond that, few things trump the honour of owning Darth Vader items.
Not only is Star Wars big business in its TV shows and movies, it’s also big business in just about every facet of entertainment. Video games, LEGO, merchandise, and of course, auctioned items from film sets.
Aspiring Jedis or Siths will pay top dollar to get their hands on the same things to have appeared on Star Wars film sets or even in the finished film itself.
Online auction site iCollector has just unveiled that Darth Vader’s helmet and mask is going under the hammer. Specifically it is the pair that appeared in The Empire Strikes Back, the second film in the original trilogy and invariably a fan-fav. By the way folks, it’s also the helmet that appeared in one of the most iconic film scenes of all time:
The items were once worn by David Prowse, the man who played Vader in the trilogy, and are expected to fetch anywhere from US $250,000 to US $450,000.
iCollector provides a description of the items’ condition:
“Both the mask and helmet are constructed of fiberglass. The Mask is painted in dark metallic gray with black accents; its interior is marked with a “1” in white paint with worn foam rubber padding and tinted plastic lenses. Two of the original three elastic straps are present to secure the mask to David Prowse’s head. The top of the mask originally secured to the jet-black helmet with a circular PVC connection (now missing; the three screw holes used to attached the PVC fitting are present). For added security, the mask’s forehead attached to the inner portion of the helmet with Velcro (still present on the helmet’s interior, but only the adhesive remnants remain on the mask, and remain hidden behind the helmet). The helmet’s interior is marked with a “3” in brown paint. Interior metal mesh behind the triangular respiratory vent and “chin grille” are missing, as are the turned aluminium “atmospheric sensors” at either side of the vent. Exhibiting some chipping on lower edges and right “cheek” from production use. Remnants of adhesive used to attach mask to the helmet are still present on the interior.”
If the collectable caused a bidding war worth almost half a million dollars, it still wouldn’t be the most expensive bit of Star Wars history floating around.
The Hollywood Reporter has previously revealed that a camera used to film Star Wars has gone for far more.
It wasn’t any camera, it was George Lucas’ own Panavision that he used to shoot Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, the first film in 1977. The camera broke records going for US $625,000.
If you want to force your way into owning some film history, you can view the auction for Vader’s helmet and mask here. The auction ends on September 26.
