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‘Star Wars’ Lightsaber Removed From Auction After Authenticity Concerns

A Lightsaber valued at $200,000 has been pulled from auction after conflicting authenticity information arises.

The lightsaber, being sold by Profiles in History of Los Angeles was pulled Thursday by Californian auction house. Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber  allegedly used in Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope, was listed to sell for up to $200,000.

This specific lightsaber was said to be one of five designed by Oscar winning Star Wars set decorator, Roger Christian. Mark Hamill would have used it on the set of A New Hope along with the others. It looks similar to the one shown below from a previous auction, used by Hayden Christensen.

Embed from Getty Images

On Thursday, auction house chief executive Joe Maddalena wrote in a statement,

“In light of conflicting information regarding the origin of Roger Christian’s lightsaber, Profiles in History has decided to withdraw the piece from this auction until Mr Christian can clear up the inconsistencies that have been brought to our attention.”

Christian has not responded to the request.

The prop came with a letter of authenticity at the time it was listed for sale at auction, but fans began to question whether it was a replica or prototype.  Editor-in-chief of originalprop.com Jason DeBord, began to examine several posts by Christian from his social media in 2015 and 2016.

Jason DeBord, the editor-in-chief of the originalprop.com blog, examined posts by Christian on social media in 2015 and 2016 in which he discussed making recent prototypes of the 1977 Skywalker lightsaber.

A fan had a little fun with Mark Hamill on Twitter, saying they imagined him looking up at the real one. Hamilly responded with laughter and #saberless, implying the irony that he doesn’t even have one of Luke’s sabers.

Star Wars costumes and props have been known to sell for high amounts of money. Last year, a different lightsaber used by Luke Skywalker in the films sold for $450,000.

Other items will still go up for sale including an original TIE fighter helmet, a pair of C-3PO hands, a Stormtrooper helmet from Star Wars: The Force Awakens, signed by Harrison Ford, Carrie Fisher, Mark Hamill, Daisy Ridley, and other members of the cast.

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