Movie-minded auction-goers wouldn’t want to miss one of Bonhams London’s sales later this month (December 11), especially if they want to secure some truly stellar movie memorabilia. Up for grabs is no less than a 62-lot archive featuring many of the personal notebooks, sketches and drawings that once belonged to John Mollo, the Oscar-winning British costume designer whose Star Wars sketches laid the foundation for the distinctive look of the best-known characters in the Star Wars’ universe.

Perhaps the most coveted item among this veritable treasure trove is Mollo’s personal sketchbook, which covered the period April 1975 to July 1976 and features many the initial sketches of the costumes ultimately destined for such Star Wars stalwarts as Darth Vader, Han Solo, Chewbacca and, of course, the franchise’s ever-iconic stormtroopers. Alongside these provisional sketches are scribbled details of costume budgets, brainstorming sessions and notes from meeting with Star Wars creator George Lucas

Putting this lot into due perspective, Katherine Schofield, Head of Entertainment Memorabilia at Bonhams, said: “Without a doubt, John Mollo created costumes that elevated many characters to cult cinematic status. These sketchbooks are a unique part of cinema history – in my experience nothing like this has ever been seen at auction before.”