When, as early as 1974, George Lucas set about working on the second of two sci-fi scripts he was contracted to make with Universal Studios, he did not expect to be creating possibly the greatest pop culture phenomenon ever. But the Star Wars franchise was born, expected or not, and we are all the more grateful for it. It’s little wonder then that Star Wars memorabilia, driven by its army of fans of all age groups, can command a high price at auction. Here’s a list of the 5 most expensive Star Wars costumes sold at auction to date.
5. Chewbacca Mask - €140,576
Chewbacca was Han Solo’s sidekick, copilot and best friend throughout the Star Wars films. Only 5 wookiee costumes were made for the films and the mask from one of these costume went up for auction in 2012. The mask was worn on screen by actor Peter Mayhew, which certainly helped it achieve such an impressive winning bid.
Image Source: NY Daily News
4. Han Solo’s Leather Jacked from ‘The Force Awakens’ - €167,273
In 2016, Harrison Ford put his leather jacket from the film ‘The Force Awakens’ up for auction, and it was a very special auction at that. The charity auction benefiting FACES (Finding a Cure for Epilepsy and Seizures) received an impressive winning bid for this item after 50 bidders fought to be the jacket’s new owner. What makes this even more special is that the charity has a special place in Ford’s heart since his daughter suffers from epilepsy. Before the auction he was quoted saying ‘unlike the cynical Han Solo, I have a good feeling about this’.
Image Source: CNN Money
3. Episode V Snowtrooper Helmet - €234,000
Not to be confused with the stormtrooper, the lesser known snowtrooper was featured in the battle of Hoth, an ice planet in Episode V. This item, sold in 2012, is rumored to be the only such helmet ever to come up for sale. The lucky buyer can boast having one of the most exclusive pieces of Star Wars memorabilia in his collection now.
Image Source: iCollector
2. Imperial Stormtrooper Costume Elements - € 237,474
The stormtroopers are the galactic empire’s ground troops, and their iconic white armour is now a staple for any fancy-dress occasion. In 2011 a collection of armour elements which were believed to be used in the filming of the first 2 movies in the Star Wars trilogy went up for auction.
Image Source: Robb Report
1. TIE Fighter Helmet - €243,625
A combination of the infamous stormtrooper helmet and the rebel pilot helmets is the helm donned by the TIE fighter pilots. The helmet itself is rare; very few were made. In fact, it’s said that of the 14 made the studio only purchased 12. When this helmet went up for auction in 2016, it sold for a record breaking price after a long and hard bidding war.
Image Source: Daily Express
It’s amazing to think Star Wars was created over 35 years ago and that in that time it’s become such a feature in our society. The memories it brings back and the excitement as the cinema release date of each film approaches is something so many of us can relate to. Why don’t you try to relive some of those memories and that excitement by going online and checking out our weekly Movie Merchandise auction, you never know what treasure you might find!
Did you know that you can also sell movie memorabilia at Catawiki? You don't have to be a professional, even if you only want to sell one or two objects, our experts would love to see them and hopefully offer you a spot in the next auction!