Rare Star Wars X-Wing Model Sells at Auction for Over $3 Million, Setting New Record

Quincy Jon, Tech Times 17 October 2023, 12:10 pm

(Photo: FREDERIC J. BROWN/AFP via Getty Image) A photomatched 1976 Pyro X-Wing Starfighter model miniature from the 1977 film "Star Wars: A New Hope" is displayed at Propstore in Valencia, California, on May 9, 2022.

An X-wing Starfighter miniature from "Star Wars: Episode IV: A New Hope" (1977) sold for $3.135 million at auction, far more than its opening cost of $400,000, setting a record for any Star Wars movie prop, according to Dallas-based Heritage Auctions.

In 2022, friends of the late Hollywood visual effects designer, Mr. Greg Jein, discovered the fascinating rare X-wing miniature model in his garage. For decades, Mr. Jein, who died aged 76 last year, collected Hollywood memorabilia. Two residences, two garages, and two storage facilities in Los Angeles held these items.

The successful bidder, who engaged in a telephone bidding competition with another collector, has remained anonymous. Notably, a comparable X-wing model sold for around $2.4 million last year, according to The Strait Times.

One of the Highest-Selling Hollywood Auctions in History

The auction sold more than 500 pieces from Mr. Jein's superb collection for $13.6 million. This two-day Hollywood auction is second only to Debbie Reynolds' 2011 $22.8 million sale.

The collection exhibited Mr. Jein's love of sci-fi, comics, and fantasy. A Stormtrooper costume from the first "Star Wars" film sold for $645,000, a spacesuit from Stanley Kubrick's 1968 film "2001: A Space Odyssey" sold for $447,000, and a utility belt from the 1960s Adam West-starring "Batman" television series, which sold for $36,250, as per a report from The New York Times.

However, the X-wing captured the greatest interest. This 22-inch prop, according to Heritage Auctions, was used in sequences when three Rebel Alliance members flew X-wings during the crucial assault against the Death Star. These individuals went by the call signs Red Leader, Red Two, and Red Five, which belonged to Luke Skywalker.

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Industrial Light & Magic, the George Lucas-founded special effects company, created the X-wing miniature model. It was built with motorized wings, fiber-optic lighting, and other detailed embellishments for close-up shots during the filming of the original Star Wars movie.

A Certified Sci-Fi Geek

Interestingly, the visual effects industry had not seen the X-wing concept in many years, so its discovery was met with considerable excitement. While working with Mr. Jein on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine" in the 1990s, visual effects historian and archivist Gene Kozicki compared the X-wing finding to "Kids on Christmas."

According to Western Wheel, before joining the successful franchise, Mr. Jein was a diehard "Star Trek" fan and auctioned off some of his memorabilia. In particular, a model of the 1960s "Star Trek: The Original Series" ship "SS Botany Bay" sold for $200,000.

The auction's highlights were a $187,500 hero phaser and a $175,000 tricorder, both show props. Additionally, Mr. Jein acquired a delicate lace hairpiece that William Shatner wore as Captain Kirk in the original "Star Trek" TV series. This rare Star Trek item sold for $13,750.