Heritage Auctions’ Hollywood & Entertainment Signature Auction, running July 13–17, puts a never-before-seen Luke Skywalker light saber used in The Empire Strikes Back and John Lennon’s handwritten “If I fall” lyrics on the block—alongside Wizard of Oz hats, B
The bidding gets underway with a light saber that hasn’t been offered before—until now. Heritage Auctions’ Hollywood & Entertainment Signature Auction, presented by Heritage Auctions, runs July 13–17, and it arrives with heavyweight movie and music memorabilia priced in the seven-figure range.
At the center of the event is a light saber with Luke Skywalker’s severed hand effects rig from The Empire Strikes Back. Used onscreen by Mark Hamill in the climactic Cloud City fight in the 1980 Star Wars sequel—where Darth Vader declares “I am your father”—the item is expected to sell for seven figures. The auction house says bidding opens at $1 million.
The other major headline item is music history on paper: John Lennon’s handwritten lyrics for “If I fell.” Written on the back of a Valentine card while he was in New York for the Fab Four’s first appearance on The Ed Sullivan Show in 1964, the lyric page is set to open at $500,000.
The auction’s star power extends beyond Star Wars and Beatles-era nostalgia. It includes hats from The Wizard of Oz and Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, hoverboards from Back to the Future II, rugs from The Big Lebowski, and a pair of Rocky boxing boots.
Bidding for a Wicked Witch of the West hat worn by actor Margaret Hamilton in 1939’s The Wizard of Oz starts at $100,000. For Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory, Gene Wilder’s brown top hat as the title character in 1971 opens at $50,000.
Back to the Future II makes its presence felt through hoverboards from the film. In The Big Lebowski. two rugs are up for sale: one belonging to Jeff Bridges’ the Dude. described as soiled at the beginning of the 1998 movie—“really tied the room together”—and the other that he takes from his wealthy namesake. Each rug has an opening bid of $15,000.
For sports-movie memorabilia, a pair of boxing boots worn by Sylvester Stallone in Rocky III will also be auctioned. Stallone wore the showy boots with tassels and a Nike swoosh in the opening montage of the 1982 film, and bidding begins at $100,000.
The lineup also features additional items including a Paul Newman hockey jersey from Slap Shot, a necklace worn by the title character in The Bride of Frankenstein, and the inflatable “Otto the Autopilot” from Airplane.
“This auction represents the full spectrum of entertainment history, from Hollywood’s Golden Age to modern blockbuster cinema and the most influential moments in popular music,” Joe Maddalena, executive vice president of Heritage Auctions, said in a statement.
Heritage Auctions Hollywood & Entertainment Signature Auction Luke Skywalker light saber Mark Hamill John Lennon handwritten lyrics If I fell The Empire Strikes Back memorabilia Beatles artifacts The Wizard of Oz hat Margaret Hamilton Gene Wilder top hat Back to the Future II hoverboards Rocky III boxing boots Sylvester Stallone boots The Big Lebowski rugs Jeff Bridges the Dude rug Paul Newman hockey jersey Slap Shot The Bride of Frankenstein necklace Airplane Otto the Autopilot
So it’s Luke’s saber… but it’s “severed hand effects rig”?? That sounds like the wrong thing for collectors, like they got the prop wrong.
Lennon lyrics on a Valentine card is wild. If I fall… I mean honestly that’s the kind of stuff that should be in a museum not some random auction house.
Wait, I thought Lennon died in 1980 not 1964. So this is definitely not when he wrote it? Like maybe it’s not even the real lyrics, just some printed copy they’re calling handwritten.
Seven figures for a light saber seems insane, but people pay for anything with Star Wars on it. Also those “Rocky boxing boots” are probably just costume boots right? Still though I bet some rich dude is gonna outbid everyone and call it investment.