By Lauren Beavis via SWNS
One of the world’s biggest “Star Wars” collectors who changed his name to Luke Skywalker is selling his vast set of toys and memorabilia.
Luke Kaye, 56, once held a Guinness World Record for amassing the UK’s largest “Star Wars” memorabilia collection – once valued at £1 million.
He’s had a lifelong obsession with the films and met its stars so many times he became friends with Mark Hamill and Peter Mayhew – who played Chewbacca.
Dad-of-five Luke, of Swindon, Wilts, became so friendly with Princess Leia actor Carrie Fisher she even stayed at his family’s house – and mentioned him in her book.
Over the years since the age of 13, he has amassed a huge collection of “Star Wars” toys and collectibles – enough to fill a warehouse.
The first set is now being sold on Friday with one Jedi lightsaber set to fetch at least £7,000 on its own.
Another auction of over 16,000 items will be held in January. His collection was previously reported to be worth £1 million.
Experts say it is impossible to put a value on it – as they cannot predict what super-rich “Star Wars” fanatics might pay.
Luke says it is a lifetime’s work and ‘worth a fortune’.
He said: “Every penny I’ve ever earned has been put into my collection.
“A lot of these items have been in museums up and down the country, and there are some really unusual and rare pieces in there.
“It needs to be framed up and put up on walls and cherished by others too. My collection is so important to me but it is so enormous now.
‘I could never just sell a few bits and bobs – I want to preserve the collection as a whole so people can enjoy it.”
He added: “I remember the first time I saw ‘Star Wars’.
”I was on holiday with mum and dad, and as soon as we saw the film I went straight to the toy shop to start buying toys.
‘I cannot go anywhere – clothes shops, bookshops, wherever – without hunting for something Star Wars-related.”
The first 230 lots will be auctioned by Wessex Auction Rooms in Wiltshire with the sale attracting interest from fans around the globe.
Some of the highlights of the auction include a Jedi lightsaber made by the ‘Saber Master’ Norman Harrison.
It was made as a back-up prop and later gifted to seller Luke by Norman and signed ‘To Luke Skywalker from Norman Harrison. Have fun’.
Also in the lot are personalized number plates S7AR W that come complete with the V778 retention documents with an estimate of £10,000.
Luke is also selling 50 extremely collectible ‘Master Replicas’ series items including lightsabers, blasters, and helmets – expected to make over £7000.
There are also original “Star Wars” toys, and full-sized replica models amongst the lots being sold.
Auctioneer and BBC Bargain Hunt expert Tim Weeks will be handling the sale on December 6.
He said:: “It’s been no surprise that as soon as we published the catalogue online we have been receiving emails and calls from buyers and fans around the world.
“This might be the one chance that someone has to purchase some of these items in their lifetime, so I am expecting some fierce bidding.
”It is no doubt one of of the biggest collections in the world and hard to value as nothing really like it has ever gone to market before.
”It only takes a millionaire ‘Star Wars’ collector, and there are many of them, to see something they want and go for it.
‘The sheer size and quality of it is incredible. I have been doing this a long time and have never seen anything like it.
”It is the most unique and outstanding collection I have ever sold.”
Luke said: “Because my name is Luke, I thought I was Luke Skywalker when I saw the films for the first time
“I thought he was a hero – that film just took everybody by storm.
“The goodies, the baddies, monsters, furry creatures – it had a bit of everything!”
A spokesperson for the auction house said: ”The collection is comprised of items relating to the Star Wars franchise of the vendor Luke Kaye, who changed his name by deed pole to Luke Skywalker.
”He is is known as one of the biggest fans and collectors in the world – he became personal friends with many of the cast members and Carrie Fisher once stayed at his family home while she was in the country.”
Carrie, known as Princess Leia in the space saga, died in 2016 four days after she had a heart attack on a plane.
Luke met the actress nine times and first met her in the early 2000s when she did a private signing at a London hotel.
He explained: “The first time I met the real Luke Skywalker I just said my name is Luke – and he said, don’t tell me you’re Luke from London!
“He knew of me and then introduced me to Carrie as the crazy fan guy from London – because at the time they thought of England as London as it was the first time the cast had come to this country since the film was released.
“Carrie would give me some personal items and she even mentions me in her book the Princess Diaries. She was an absolutely amazing woman.”
Further meetings with her in Milton Keynes, London and America followed.
Luke owned a costume shop which he first set up 35 years ago in Swindon.
As he was suppling costumes to films he then decided to start organising conventions.
He said he became a lot of the casts’ manager – and would book them and take them to signings across the UK.
He said: “I would pick them up from airports and take them to signings. I even took Dave Prowse to HMV signing in Bristol.
Luke says his two favourite pieces which are up for auction is the ex-wing helmet he has taken around the world to get signed, and the lightsaver given to him by Norman Harrelson.
16,000 of more of Luke’s costumes will also be going up for auction in January including “Star Wars”, “Star Trek” to “Wizard of Oz.”
The auction house has public viewing available on December 4 and 5 as well as on the auction day – December 6 from 9 am.
Bidders are welcome to attend in person, via telephone, or via the live online auction feed.
To view the full catalog, and to bid live online follow this link.
