Luke Skywalker's long-lost X-wing starfighter highlight of amazing Hollywood auction

Luke Skywalker's long-lost X-wing starfighter from the first Star Wars film is up for auction for £321,000 ($400,000).

The rare prop is part of a treasure trove of more than 550 treasures from a Hollywood special effects wizard.

Greg Jein, who died at 76 last year, was nominated for Academy Awards and Emmys for his iconic model- and miniature work on productions including Star Trek, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, and Stanley Kubricks' 2001: A Space Odyssey.

The screen-matched, fully articulated Red Leader X-wing filming miniature from 1977's New Hope film was featured in the famous Death Star assault scenes and is described as "the centerpiece, the show-stopper."

Dallas-based Heritage Auctions say of the X-wing: "This model has not been on public display and has not been exposed to UV daylight. As such, this miniature is in its original condition as it was filmed on the blue screen stage at ILM in 1977.

"Without question, this Hero X-wing miniature represents the pinnacle of Star Wars artifacts to ever reach the market."

The model variously played the part of Red Leader, Red Two (Wedge), and Red Five (Luke Skywalker).

Other highlights in the sale include "the most complete and best condition example" of a Stormtrooper outfit, an astronaut suit from 2001: A Space Odyssey, and Devil's Tower and alien mothership models from Close Encounters of the Third Kind.

Heritage Auctions say none of the materials in The Greg Jein collection have ever been available to the public, and were saved from destruction following the productions.

They add: "Most weren't even made to survive the passage of time, and some would not have lasted were it not for Jein, who friends and colleagues say rescued much of this material from history's dustbin and studio's dumpsters."

"Greg loved what he did, creating things with his hands, " says Jerry Chang, Jein's first cousin. "He could see in his mind things other people couldn't."

"Greg loved this craft — loved the whole world he lived in, " says his old friend, Heritage Auctions' Executive Vice President Joe Maddalena. "He was an inspiration. Being able to handle his collection is one of the most significant things I've ever done because I feel like I am the custodian of my friend's treasures."

The Greg Jein's Collection auction will take place 14-15 October.