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Historic Item From Legendary Movie Sells for $256K

A fan splashed out on one of six surviving Stormtrooper helmets made for the original “Star Wars” movie.

A cashed-up Star Wars fan has dropped $256,000 to own a Stormtrooper helmet that was worn in Episode IV - A New Hope in 1977. The item was one of many Star Wars-related pieces auctioned at Comic-Con in San Diego. Julien’s Auctions had listed the helmet, which was gifted to a film crew member, with a price range of between $200,000 and $300,000. In 1976, 50 Stormtrooper helmets were manufactured for use on set. Julien’s says only six of those have survived, and the others are now in private collections. Other items sold at the Echoes From the Galaxy, A Star Wars Memorabilia Exhibit and Auction included an original lightsaber used by Darth Maul in The Phantom Menace, which sold for $76,800, and a prop hand used for C-3PO in The Empire Strikes Back, C-3PO fetching $16,000. The most unexpected item was a hot pink Spandex unitard, designed by Cher’s costumer, Bob Mackie, for the Star Wars Holiday Special , which aired on CBS in 1978. The outfit, known as a ‘Holographic Tumbler,’ sold for $8,960. The two-week auction was promoted as “the world’s largest collection of Star Wars artifacts from renowned collectors, fans and insiders of the epic franchise.”