In a galaxy not so far away,Star Warsfans may be digging through pocket change this week in hopes of cashing in on some iconic props from the original trilogy. Propstore Auction debuts itsEntertainment Memorabilia Live Auctionon Thursday, Sept. 4, and one of the coveted items isDarth Vader's on-screen lightsaberfrom "Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back" and "Star Wars: Return of the Jedi." The prop was used "extensively" by the lateDavid Prowse, who played Darth Vader in the original trilogy, and features authentic signs of wear, the Propstore website states. "Far from diminishing its value, these marks serve as compelling evidence of the lightsaber's direct involvement in the action – testament to its film-used authenticity," thelightsaber's descriptionon the Propstore website reads. While Propstore knows the lightsaber was used in "The Empire Strikes Back" and "Return of the Jedi," it could have made some other appearances, too. "It's also possible that the piece or some elements of it were used in the very first Star Wars film, though we cannot be certain," Propstore Chief Operating Officer Brandon Alinger told USA TODAY. "While they had a few lightsaber props, what makes this one special is that it was used for the action sequences – the duels are some of the most memorable scenes in both of those films." Bidding for the lightsaber begins at $500,000, and Propstore estimates the final bid to be$1-3 million. As of Tuesday, Sept. 2, six absentee bids (bids placed ahead of the auction) had been placed, amounting to $1.2 million. 'Star Wars: Starfighter':First look reveals star-studded cast of Ryan Gosling film The lot containing Darth Vader's Screen-Matched Hero Dueling Lightsaber opens on Thursday, Sept. 4, with bidding starting at 10 a.m. PT. The first day of the Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction at the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles, California, will be in-person only bidding. During the following two days of the auction, attendees can bid online via phone call or as an absentee (bid ahead of time online). For more information about the bidding process, visit the Propstore website atpropstoreauction.com/auctions/info/id/456. When it comes to sourcing props for its Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction, Alinger told USA TODAY that items may come from production companies, film studios or individuals associated with productions. "The consignor who owns this piece has had it for many years and decided the time was right to sell," Alinger said of the lightsaber. Alinger said Propstore was confident the lightsaber was legitimate, but to ensure its authenticity, an "extensive research" was conducted, even going so far as to "take X-ray images to examine the internal structure." Darth Vader's lightsaber is one of more than 1,000 props that make up Propstore's Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction. Here's a look at some other key items: With great power comes an even greater costume. The full-body costume from "Spider-Man"is believed to have been heavily worn by Tobey Maguire while he was on set, according to thePopstore website. Displayed on a custom-made mannequin, the costume's bidding starts at $50,000 and is expected to sell for $100,000 to $200,000. The bid for theiconic circular glassesworn byDaniel Radcliffein "Harry Potter and the Sorcerer's Stone" is starting at $15,000. The glasses are expected to sell for $30,000 to $60,000. The bid for thebullwhip, belt and whip holsterworn byHarrison Fordin the 1989 "Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade" is starting at $125,000. The final bid is estimated to be between $250,000 and $500,000. Thesignature alien-tech toolused by Agent K (Tommy Lee Jones) and Agent J (Will Smith) in the 1997 cult classic "Men in Black" is up for auction. Bidding starts at $37,500, and the final bid is estimated to land between $75,000 and $150,000. The bid for theoriginal shark tooth clapperboardand two on-set Polaroid photographs from the 1975 film "Jaws" is starting at $20,000. The final bid is estimated to be between $40,000 and $80,000 for the50th anniversaryprop. Greta Cross is a national trending reporter at USA TODAY. Story idea? Email her atgcross@usatoday.com. This article originally appeared on USA TODAY:Darth Vader's lightsaber to be auctioned off, bids start at $500K
