Rare ‘Star Wars’ movie memorabilia being sold at auction
One of the last surviving Stormtrooper helmets worn in 1977’s “Star Wars,” Luke Skywalker’s blaster from “The Empire Strikes Back,” and a treasure chest of other prized props from the enduring franchise are up for auction in Dallas.
Movie and TV memorabilia collector John Azarian is selling off 78 of his one-of-a-kind “Star Wars” props on July 29 at Heritage Auctions, but buyers were able to start bidding online for the pieces on July 5.
There are 31 items from the space film franchise including Carrie Fisher’s Snowspeeder and a cache of prop weapons, including what the auction house dubbed the “Holy Trinity” – a trio of lightsabers from “The Phantom Menace,” used in the infamous bridge fight scene with Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul.
“Every one of these is something that I always dreamed of holding in my hand,” Robert Wilonsky, vice president of Heritage’s public relations and communications, told The Post.
“We all loved these movies when we were kids. I never imagined that I would get to see in person Luke’s Blaster or his X-win,” Wilonsky continued. “It makes these memories tangible. These are no longer just things you see on a screen. They are almost magic when you see them up close.”
Another “Empire” movie prop available for purchase is the miniature X-wing Rebel Alliance starfighter which transported Luke in the film.
There lots also include an item that once belonged to Fisher, who died in 2016.
Fisher, who played Princess Leia in the franchise, sold the Snowspeeder from the second “Star Wars” to Azarian to help her mother, Debbie Reynolds, launch The Hollywood Motion Picture Museum.
Azarian, a real estate developer, has one of the world’s biggest collections of original 1960s TV, superhero, and sci-fi film props, costumes, wardrobe, memorabilia, original script, collectible toys and autographs — but has a special place in his heart for his “Star Wars” merch.
“Like most people of a certain age, I remember standing in line for hours to see them in theaters,” Azarian said in a release. “I spread the collection over all of the movies. And I just liked the look of the new Stormtrooper helmet, so when I saw it come up, I had to get it.”
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