ImageCollect/ Everett
Some of the most coveted memorabilia in the entertainment industry are the props utilized in the popular Star Wars franchise movies, and among these treasured items is an extraordinary dress donned by Princess Leia, a character portrayed by the late Carrie Fisher.
Among the collection of outfits worn by Princess Leia, the medieval-style dress worn by Fisher in the 1977 Star Wars: A New Hope remains the only surviving Princess Leia costume from that iconic film to have been uncovered to date.
However, props collector Stephen Lane revealed in an interview with The Post that the dress had been presumed lost for many years until he received a valuable tip about the existence of the dress almost ten years ago from a fellow collector.
“When I was first told about the dress, I simply couldn’t believe it, I’ve been collecting for 30 years, and I think it’s one of the most exciting finds of my career,” he confessed. “Collectors had been searching for nearly 40 years, and everyone had come to the conclusion that it didn’t exist anymore. No one had found any Princess Leia costumes.”
The collector recounted that the dress was in very bad shape when he laid his hands on it. “But then I went to meet this former crew member, and hanging on the back of a door in his office was this ratty old plastic bag — and balled up in the bottom of the plastic bag was the dress. It was in a really poor condition but instantly recognizable, partly because of the belt,” Lane explained. “It all came out grubby and torn, but it was also astonishing because it was clear that it was the real thing.”
Upon obtaining the dress, Lane stated that he wasted no time in seeking the expertise of professional restorers. Acting upon a recommendation from the prestigious Victoria and Albert Museum, he promptly entrusted the delicate task of restoration to Janie Lightfoot, who is a big name in terms of preserving historical garments. “They are used to working with tapestries that are hundreds of years old and are the experts when it comes to textile conservation,” he confessed. “BAs part of the process, they had to analyze all the marks on the garment — and found food, wine, and even blood.”
Now fully restored, the iconic gown is ready for auction. The auction, which is tagged Entertainment Memorabilia Live Auction, organized by Propstore, will take place from 28 – 30 June in Los Angeles.
The iconic ceremonial dress from the George Lucas film is anticipated to fetch a whooping sum of $2 million, although it could go for more than that.
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