A bizarre denim outfit purchased just for fun decades ago in London has turned out to be a costume made for the first ever Star Wars film in 1977 – and it could net £1,000 at auction.
The quirky attire, which resembles short baggy dungarees, was spotted around 42 years ago in the late 1970s by a woman out shopping with a friend in Camden, London. She had no idea it was anything special, or that the clothing, bought for around £5, could be worth 200 times that figure decades later.
The seller, from South London, said: “I’m not sure why it took my eye. I found the outfit at a theatrical clothing sale in Camden. I just remember seeing rails and rails of clothes. I noticed the name on the label had the initials JK – the same as mine. I thought I could wear it to a fancy-dress party or something.
“I had no idea the dungarees were of any significance when I bought them. Fairly recently, when I became more tech savvy, I decided to do some research and discovered more. The label in the jacket says ‘Joe Kaye, colonel 10545 Star Wars’.
“Joe was an actor who I’d read portrayed a Lutrillian in the first Star Wars film, Episode IV A New Hope. It was quite a surprise. I had an even bigger surprise when I heard the valuation. The outfit’s been in my wardrobe for more than 40 years. It’s travelled around with me whenever I’ve moved.
“I only took it along to be valued as an afterthought with something else. I was astonished by the valuation. I had no idea it could be worth so much.”
Chris Kirkham, associate director at Hansons London, where the item is due to auctioned on May 28, said: “What a wonderful piece of movie memorabilia. The owner popped down to one of our Walk-in Wednesday valuation events at the Normansfield Theatre in Teddington.
“She had no idea the item might be valuable – or sought after. But, of course, Star Wars is a worldwide phenomenon with legions of fans all over the world. It’s estimated that more than one billion people have seen a Star Wars movie. That first film started it all and keen collectors will be pleased to have an opportunity to bid on a costume linked to one of the world’s biggest blockbuster movies.
“The label in the outfit provides the provenance. As well as stating Joe Kaye’s name and ‘Star Wars’, it provides the makers’ information, Bermans & Nathans, 40 Camden Street, London NW1. They were legendary costume designers.
“The late English actor Joe Kaye is listed as Solomohal in the cast of the first Star Wars film. It features a vast, weird and quirky array of characters from different planets so the bizarre denim outfit would fitted in well. Apparently, during production, the crew referred to the Lutrillians as ‘The Colonel’ and the ‘Hare Mouse’. The word ‘Colonel’ appears on the clothing label, too.
“Joe may have played only a small part in the film but it became one of the biggest movies of all time. When it first debuted in May 1977 it was an instant hit making $1.5 million (£1.2m) in theatres, a number unheard of at the time. The film went on to make more than $775 million (£627m) worldwide.”
The Star Wars outfit will be offered on Saturday, May 28 in Hansons London’s Fine Art, Antiques and Collectors Auction, estimate of £800-£1,000. Catalogue due live May 20: www.hansonslive.co.uk.
Hansons London offers free antique, jewellery and collectables valuations every Wednesday, 10am-4pm, at the Normansfield Theatre, 2A Langdon Park, Teddington, TW11 9PS. No appointment necessary. To find out more, email: [email protected] or [email protected].
