A piece of the most iconic weapon in the Star Wars saga, the Death Star will be auctioned from tomorrow, May 24, to Saturday, June 3. After more than 40 years, an original fragment of the Death Star survived, and here is its story.
A Piece Rescued from the Set
More than 40 years ago, production began on the first of many installments in one of cinema's most important sagas. One of the most remembered scenes is the final battle where the rebels infiltrate the Death Star to destroy it. Several pieces were used for that scene, and none survived the explosions so they were discarded, or so it was believed. An ex-ILM employee rescued this piece and kept it as a memento for 37 years. The one who brought it to light is Steve Grad, the biggest Star Wars collector, who acquired this piece and kept it in his safe for four years.
Authenticity and Provenance
This fragment of the Death Star comes with a letter of authenticity from its creators, Lorne Peterson and Jonathan Erland, two visual effects luminaries who worked together on the creation of the first Death Star. Peterson continued working at ILM until 2007, so he was in charge of the effects in the two sequels and the later prequels, which were made 20 years later. As a fun fact, Lorne Peterson won an Oscar in 1984 for Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.
A Rare Item for Collectors
It is worth noting that this piece, which will be up for bidding in the coming days, is not abundant in the world of collecting, giving it added value, along with the letter of authenticity from its creators and a rich history.
Auction Details
This auction will start this Thursday and will be led by the website Hollywood Memorabilia together with eBay. At Hollywood Memorabilia you can find objects used in famous productions or obtain others autographed not only by filmmakers but also by musicians.
Starting tomorrow, in addition to the release of "Solo: A Star Wars Story", you will be able to acquire a vital piece of cinema history, although its value may exceed the reach of most mortals.
Source: Hollywood Memorabilia / eBay
