Darth Vader promotional helmet, shoulder armor, and chest box
This is an interesting item that wasn’t actually used for filming; instead, it was used for promotional tours to hype the Star Wars villain. According to the catalogue, “In 1980, Lucasfilm UK authorized Nicholas J. Farmer of N.J. Farmer Associates LTD. in England to create complete touring costumes of the iconic ‘Darth Vader’ character. Farmer contacted David Middleton, the credited construction storeman on The Empire Strikes Back at Pinewood Studios, who released one of the original Darth Vader costumes used in the film in order for Farmer to make the master molds and patterns necessary to create touring costumes for the film’s premiers in select major markets and press appearances. This specific helmet matches the early examples created to go on tour in May 1980 to coincide with the release of The Empire Strikes Back, and it was later used in the promotion of The Return of the Jedi in 1983.”
