This is a Part 2 follow-up to my last YouTube video taking a close-up look at the “[o]riginal production used “Luke Skywalker” lightsaber from Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope from the collection of Oscar-winning set decorator Roger Christian” featured in the upcoming Profiles in History “Hollywood Auction 96” taking place on December 11th, 12th, 13th, and 14th. This latest video primarily looks at the discrepancies between the lightsaber depicted in the Letter of Authenticity (LOA) and the lightsaber depicted in the auction catalog, in the online iCollector listing, and that was on display at San Diego Comic Con earlier this year.
I wanted to also include links to much of the information that was referenced in this video, which you can find further below under “FOOTNOTES”.
Click below to watch this video or click through to watch directly on YouTube:
As noted in this latest video, since the publication of the first video, I was reminded that the consignor and owner of the current lightsaber up for auction – Roger Chrisitan – had years ago registered for the Original Prop Blog and posted a “Reader Comment” to challenge the authenticity and provenance of a prop in the collection of the National Rifle Association’s National Firearms Museum in Virginia. The Natinnal Firearms Museum also have a Graflex flashgun which they claim is an original Luke Skywalker lightsaber that was from Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. Roger Christian replied to a “Reader Comment” from Jim Supica, Director, National Firearms Museum, saying in part “…the one shown here in the museum is simply an original graflex flax handle which anyone can buy”.
In preparing this YouTube video and article, I also noticed that one of the images in the current Profiles in History LOA for this lightsaber was borrowed from the very article to which Mr. Christian had published his “Reader Comment”.
FOOTNOTES (links to public sources of information referenced in the YouTube video):
- Original Prop Blog: YouTube Close-Up Look – Profiles in History “Hollywood Auction 96” Luke Skywalker Lightsaber from Star Wars: A New Hope
- YouTube: Close-Up Look – Profiles in History “Hollywood Auction 96” Luke Skywalker Lightsaber from Star Wars
- Original Prop Blog: Ellis Props “Star Wars Luke Skywalker Lightsaber”?
- Original Prop Blog: Ellis Props “Star Wars Luke Skywalker Lightsaber”? – Roger Christian “Reader Comment” 2013
- Original Prop Blog: Roger J. Christian Offers Some Insights Into Original Prop Lightsabers from “Star Wars: A New Hope” (Update To NRA Museum / Graflex Flash / Ellis Props Articles)
- Original Prop Blog: San Diego Comic-Con 2018: Profiles in History Movie Props and Costumes Exhibit Showcases Future Auction Highlights
- Parts of Star Wars: Lightsaber – Luke Skywalker Episode IV: A New Hope
- iCollector: Lot 1479. Original production used “Luke Skywalker” lightsaber from Star Wars: Episode IV – A New Hope. Estimated At:150,000.00 – 200,000.00 USD
- Comparison Photo A: Download Link
- Comparison Photo B: Download Link
Past Auction Notes:
Profiles in History “Hollywood Auction 22” July 2005 (Source: Kurtz / Joiner Archive)
Lot 157. “Luke Skywalker Hero Lightsaber from Star Wars”
Sold for $200,600Profiles in History “Hollywood Auction 33” December 2008 (Source: Kurtz / Joiner Archive)
Lot 347. “Mark Hamill Hero “Luke Skywalker” Lightsaber from Star Wars and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back”
Sold for $240,000Profiles in History “Hollywood Auction 89” June 2017 (Source: Kurtz / Joiner Archive; Lot 347, Hollywood Auction 33)
Lot 1307. “Mark Hamill Hero “Luke Skywalker” Lightsaber from Star Wars and Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back”
Sold for $450,000
Jason DeBord