Clothing bought for $6 sold for nearly $15,000 after discovery it’s costume from ‘Star Wars’

By Adam Dutton via SWNS

A pair of denim dungarees bought for £5 ($6.24) have sold for more than £12,000 ($14,987) at auction after they turned out to be a costume from the first-ever 'Star Wars' film.

The bizarre baggy outfit was purchased in a clothes sale around 42 years ago by a woman shopping in Camden, North London, during the late 1970s.

She had no idea of its potential value and the item of clothing remained in her wardrobe at her South London home for more than 40 years.

But she decided to take it to a free valuation event after doing some online research about the label inside which read: "Joe Kaye, colonel 10545 Star Wars".

It transpired Joe Kaye was an actor who played a Lutrillian and wore the outfit in the first Star Wars movie, "Episode IV A New Hope", in 1977.

The dungarees were expected to fetch £1,000 when they went under the hammer but sold for £9,000 at Hansons Auctioneers on Saturday (28/5).

With buyer’s premium and VAT, the total price paid by a private American online bidder was £12,456.

Chris Kirkham, associate director at Hansons London, said: “We knew interest was strong as bids started to flood in ahead of auction day.

"Nevertheless, we were still dazzled by the result. Those denim dungarees really did skyrocket.

“I’m thrilled for our client as she only had the item valued as an afterthought.

"She brought them along to one of our Walk-In Wednesday valuations days at the Normansfield Theatre in Teddington.

"They’d been in her wardrobe for 40 years. She had no idea it might be valuable or sought after.

"It just goes to show how important it is to have get items checked out if you have an inkling they might be worth something.

"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 in 1977 started it all and collectors were keen to bid on a costume linked to one of the world’s biggest blockbuster movies."

The seller, who wishes to remain anonymous, said she had no idea the clothing she bought for a fiver would end up being worth so much money decades later.

The woman, 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 traveled 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.”