Because Banksy has been selling its prints independently online for over a decade, the quality of many of its aftermarket prints can vary wildly. “The first prints were originally marketed at very low prices, £ 30 ($ 40) unsigned and £ 120 ($ 165) signed,” said Richard Hawkes, print maintenance specialist at Artworks Conservation Ltd. not caring for them or having them framed with acid-free mounts, copies in good condition are harder to find.

According to Hawkes, a particular issue affecting the quality of a number of Banksy’s prints is that they are often sold or shipped rolled up in a tube. This led to the prints being glued to non-archival, pressure sensitive panels or secured with thermosetting fabric. “We’ve seen Banksy prints heat set on MDF and worse,” he said.

The value of a Banksy print may also vary depending on when and how the print was produced and whether it is signed. Its collectors place great importance on unique characteristics that help a print stand out from others in its series. “Banksy editions can be divided into signed prints, unsigned prints and artist proofs, their subjects often reproducing the artist’s most iconic images and designs,” said Lucia Tro Santafe, director of the prints department of Bonhams. “When a similar subject exists in multiple editions, signed editions are more valuable than unsigned editions, while artist proofs charge an additional premium when they feature hand-painted elements or color variations. rare.