Obi-Wan's Jedi cloak sold

How cheap is your force?

Obi-Wan Kenobi's Jedi cloak sold at auction yesterday for £54,000.

Two telephone bidders battled it out to claim Sir Alec Guinness's costume from the original Star Wars trilogy.

Clothing from Dr Who also sold for far more than estimates. Tom Baker's promotional costume of maroon coat, trousers, waistcoat and stripey scarf sold for £24,600 - 20 times the estimate. One of his coats sold for £8,400. Sylvester McCoy's promotional costume was a little more affordable at £1,200.

Other highlights of the sale included the Batman and Robin costumes worn by David Jason and Nicholas Lyndurst in an Only Fools and Horses special, which went for £10,200.

Bond outfits also went for serious money. A dinner jacket worn by Sean Connery in Thunderball fetched £33,600.

Auctioneer Bonhams was selling costumes from theatrical and film supplier Angels, which has won Oscars for its costume design. The company was founded in 1840 as a theatrical supplier and has been run by five generations of the Angel family. Some stock had to be sold because of increasing insurance premiums and shortage of space.

Bonhams' press release is here. ®