An original X-Wing fighter miniature will lead a selection of Star Wars memorabilia at Profiles in History later this month.
The model, created by the film’s original production team, is amongst the highlights of the three-day Hollywood Auction in California.
The X-Wing was produced by the film’s Oscar-winning Miniature and Optical Effects Unit, led by Chief Model Maker Grant McCune, and spent almost 40 years in his collection.
For the film’s climactic attack on the Death Star, the production crew needed a squadron of X-Wing fighters to destroy in a blaze of glory.
However, with time running short the team was forced to create new ships using parts of previously blown-up models, to satisfy the editorial team’s demand for more explosions.
Following the end of the shoot, this X-Wing was assembled from scorched surviving pieces by McCune’s team, and took pride of place in the offices of Apogee, Inc., the visual effects company formed by John Dykstra, McCune and other former ILM employees.
McCune retained the model until earlier this year, and it will now cross the auction block with an estimate of $150,000 – $250,000 – a price which would place it amongst the most valuable pieces of Star wars memorabilia ever sold.
The record auction price for any Star Wars prop was set back in October 2015, when the Rebel Blockade Runner model – Princess Leia’s ship from the opening scene of Star Wars – sold at Profiles in History for $465,000.
The sale will also include an original pre-production sketch of Darth Vader from The Empire Strikes Back, by concept artist Tom Jung, estimated at $4,000 – $6,000, and an original copy of the Star Wars screenplay used during the film’s first-ever table read in August 1975, signed by George Lucas and also estimated at $4,000 – $6,000.
“The upcoming three-day Hollywood Auction includes a number of extremely rare props, costumes and memorabilia from some of the most well-loved music and film icons of all time,” said Joe Maddalena, President, Profiles in History. “We are excited to give bidders around the world the opportunity to own these exceptional pieces.”
The Profiles in History Hollywood Auction takes place in California on June 29 – July 1.
