A lightsaber used by Darth Vader in the Star Wars films The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi sold on Thursday for nearly US$5 million at an auction. The weapon was used in the climactic Cloud City duel in which Vader tells Luke Skywalker "I am your father." It sold for US$4.875 million at the Ultimate Star Wars Auction held by Heritage Auctions.

According to Heritage Auctions, the sale marks a world auction record for any Star Wars collectible. It also established a new auction record for a screen-used Star Wars prop, surpassing the company's US$3.75 million July sale of Skywalker's lightsaber and severed hand-effects rig from The Empire Strikes Back.S1S2

Thursday's auction also featured material from Star Wars Episodes I through IX as well as other films and television shows. In addition to Vader's lightsaber, 27 other Star Wars lightsabers were assembled for public auction.S2