Bidding for this lot will end on Thursday, November 14th. The auction will begin at 3:00 PM GMT and lots are sold sequentially via live auctioneer; tune in to the live streaming broadcast on auction day to follow the pace. Note other lots in the auction may close on Friday, November 15th, Saturday, November 16th or Sunday, November 17th.

A Darth Vader touring costume used to promote the release of George Lucas' Star Wars Trilogy on videotape. The promotional costume was crafted by former LucasFilm archivist Don Bies and his wife Anna of DNA Productions in 1995 for distributor Fox Studios.

The costume comprises a vacuum-formed plastic helmet and fibreglass mask; a stretch fabric collar; a full-length cape and under-robe; vacuum-formed plastic chest armour with attached pauldrons; a fibreglass chest control box; a tunic featuring faux leather sleeves; a pair of gloves; a leather belt featuring three control boxes; a padded leather codpiece; a pair of faux leather trousers; and a pair of leather boots with attached plastic shin guards.

Each glove has a DNA Productions label sewn to its interior with "#7" handwritten in blue ink. Clipped onto the belt's left side is a cast resin lightsaber, based on a casting of the "Energizer Bunny" lightsaber used in the infamous 1994 Energizer commercial. The chest and belt boxes contain internal electronics that illuminate various buttons, including three red lights on the chest, which light up in sequence. One belt box contains a circuit board that once projected the Sith Lord's breath sounds. The electronics were designed and built by former ILM model maker and Mythbuster Grant Imahara.

There are signs of wear and age, with some minor damage present on the mask. The costume comes presented on a custom-made mannequin and is supplied with an external 12V power supply. This is believed to be the first example of this style of touring costume to come to auction. Dimensions (displayed): 37 cm x 69 cm x 209 cm (14.5" x 27.25" x 82.25")

Special shipping required; see special shipping notice in the Buyer's Guide.

Contains electronics; see electronics notice in the Buyer's Guide.

Estimate: £25,000 - 50,000 M