Certainly 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 in a position 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,” utilized in the infamous bridge fight scene with Qui-Gon Jinn, Obi-Wan Kenobi and Darth Maul.
“Every one among these is something that I all the time dreamed of holding in my hand,” Robert Wilonsky, vice chairman of Heritage’s public relations and communications, told The Post.
“All of us loved these movies once we were kids. I never imagined that I’d get to see in person Luke’s Blaster or his X-win,” Wilonsky continued. “It makes these memories tangible. These aren’t any longer just stuff you see on a screen. They’re almost magic whenever you see them up close.”
One other “Empire” movie prop available for purchase is the miniature X-wing Rebel Alliance starfighter which transported Luke within the film.
The lots also include an item that when belonged to Fisher, who died in 2016.
Fisher, who played Princess Leia within the franchise, sold the Snowspeeder from the second “Star Wars” to Azarian to assist her mother, Debbie Reynolds, launch The Hollywood Motion Picture Museum.
Azarian, an actual estate developer, has one among the world’s biggest collections of original Sixties 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 individuals of a certain age, I remember standing in line for hours to see them in theaters,” Azarian said in a release. “I spread the gathering over all of the films. And I just liked the look of the brand new Stormtrooper helmet, so once I saw it come up, I needed to get it.”
