Darth Vader’s Lightsaber Is No Longer the Most Costly ‘Star Wars’ Merchandise Offered at Public sale

The yr virtually ended with Darth Vader’s lightsaber sitting excessive atop the pile of “most beneficial Star Wars memorabilia ever bought at public sale.” However 2025 isn’t over but, and a brand new grasp has emerged: Tom Jung‘s attractive, iconic unique half-sheet art work for the 1977 film. Whereas the lightsaber pulled in $3.654 million just a few months in the past, the portray—bought by the household of Star Wars producer Gary Kurtz—began the bidding at $1 million and ended up fetching $3.875 million.

Right here’s the complete, uncropped unique art work:

Right here’s an commercial displaying the art work in use:

The third Star Wars artifact on this three million dollar-plus membership? The “Pink Chief” X-Wing filming miniature (bought in 2023 for $3.125 million).

As a Heritage Auctions press launch explains, Jung’s work has significance past its aesthetic magnificence as a result of it’s “the portray that launched the world to Star Wars.”

How’s that? Nicely, “This extraordinary portray is the primary extensively printed picture to ever promote Star Wars—the visible spark that ignited a worldwide phenomenon. First showing in nationwide newspaper advertisements on Might 13, 1977, almost two weeks earlier than the movie’s launch, the dynamic composition launched audiences to ‘a galaxy far, distant.’ It shortly turned the definitive visible id of Star Wars, later gracing the movie’s official program cowl, huge 24-sheet billboards, and numerous journal and newspaper advertisements throughout its unique launch.”

And followers nonetheless understand it completely right now, with its vivid renderings of ships in flight, pilots standing in formation, a muscular Luke and sultry Leia (earlier than anybody knew they had been, y’know, twins), Obi-Wan Kenobi, a tiny Chewbacca, and extra, with Darth Vader’s large helmet looming over all the pieces.

One other file was additionally set by this Heritage Auctions sale, by the way in which: the best worth for a chunk of film poster artwork. In July, Bob Peak’s unique Apocalypse Now art work bought for $687,500, which seems like a discount proper about now.

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