Of the 719 diogenites on record, only 12 are witnessed falls and Tatahouine is among them. Diogenites are an exotic class of meteorites that originate from Vesta. On July 27, 1931, Tatahouine exploded in the low atmosphere just outside of the Tunisian town of Foum Tatahouine into thousands of small specimens — most weighing less than one gram. Seven of the eight specimens now offered are larger and all were collected by noted French collector and dealer Dr. Alain Carion and his son, Louis. As a result of its singular olive-green matrix and striated black shock veins with pockets of shock melt, Tatahouine does not resemble any other meteorite known. And should the aforementioned prove insufficiently seductive, there is the Hollywood connection: in recognition of the location sequences shot in Tunisia, Luke Skywalker’s home planet in Star Wars was named “Tatooine.”

The total weight of these eight specimens is 33.5 grams.

The dimensions of the largest and smallest specimens: 23 x 16 x 17mm (1 x 0.66 x 0.66 in.) and 9.35 grams (47 carats)  ///  9 x 8 x 4mm (0.33 x 0.33 x 0.2 in.) and 0.84 grams (4 carats)

Provenance: Meteorite Collection of Alain Carion, Paris

Estimate: $1,000 – 1,400  *  Reserve: $800