The lightsaber wielded by Darth Vader in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi sold at auction yesterday for $4,875,000, making it the most expensive Star Wars prop and piece of memorabilia ever sold.
The weapon, featured in the climactic Cloud City duel, obliterated the previous record of $3.75 million set earlier this year by Luke Skywalker's lightsaber from the same scene, which famously came with its owner's severed hand still attached.
The sale also eclipsed the $3.875 million paid last December for the original A New Hope poster painting. The winning bidder's identity was not disclosed.