An extremely rare piece of Star Wars memorabilia is up for auction; something that can be credited for playing one of the most crucial roles in the success of the franchise. The sketchbooks that belong to Oscar-winning costume designer John Mollo is up for grabs. It has the original costume designs drawn by Mollo for the original trilogy, including the iconic outfit designs for Darth Vader, Luke Skywalker and other “Star Wars” characters. The British military illustrator-turned-Hollywood costume designer was commissioned by George Lucas to design the outfits for Star Wars: A New Hope and The Empire Strikes Back, for which Mollo won the Academy Award in the Best Costume Design category in 1978.
“The sketchbooks are so special, because they reveal the inner workings of the mind of of Britain’s greatest costume designer,” said Katherine Schofield, Bonhams’ head of entertainment memorabilia. “They show John Mollo’s sources of inspiration—from magazine adverts to military costumes to western films—as well as the inventiveness of his mind.” John Mollo died last year at the age of 86 and all the prized items from his incredible career are being auctioned by his family through Bonhams, including notes and his sketchbook. Included with the book are invitations to the 1978 Academy Awards, where Mollo won an Oscar for A New Hope. According to the auction house, the sketchbooks are expected to sell for more than £300,000 (about $378,000).
[Via:TheJakartaPost]
