On Thursday March 7th, Roseberys’ first Prints & Multiples sale of 2023 went well with strong prices across the board. Particularly strong prices were achieved for works by Andy Warhol, David Hockney, Bob Dylan, Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin and Grayson Perry. This shows the underlying strength of the print market especially when you have celebrity names on offer. Signed works by Hockney continued to attract a lot of interest and Bob Dylan has firmly established himself as highly collectible in this field. Damien Hirst, Tracey Emin and Grayson Perry remained popular because of the artists’ wide price points, depending on the popularity of the works.

_{Lot 97: Andy Warhol,American 1928-1987,Mick Jagger [F. and S. II.138], 1975} 

The number one standout lot of the auction was lot 97, Warhol’s 1975 print of Mick Jagger, which sold for £85,000 hammer. The glamorous image of the Rolling Stones frontman by the pop art icon, was one of the best images of the Jagger series showing his face clearly. This work confirms Warhol’s continued popular commercial appeal at auction and was praised for its beauty with its juxtaposition of pale green and silver ink in daring shapes.

_{Lot 98: Andy Warhol, American 1962-1987, Oyster Stew from Campbell's Soup II (F. and S. II. 60), 1969}

Another work by Warhol - lot 98 - also proved successful. ‘Oyster Stew’ is an iconic Warholian image, and the 1969 print (made at the beginning of the artist’s pop art journey) sold for £34,000. The ongoing strength of the red colour in the soup can (now deeply linked with Warhol’s practice) added to the striking image’s appeal.

_{Lot 223: David Hockney OM CH RA, British b. 1937- Untitled 346, 2010 (iPad Drawing)}

Lot 223 - an iPad drawing by British pop artist David Hockney - achieved double its estimate at sale. The beautiful flower still life work by Hockney featuring strong colours sold for £30,000 hammer. Hockney’s works are very in-vogue currently, whether they be iPad- or traditional prints. Roseberys successfully sold an iPad drawing print in the last sale and this work continues that trend.

_{Lot 218: David Hockney OM CH RA, British b. 1937- Gorge d'Incre (from Some More New Prints), 1993}

Another successful sale for a Hockney work was lot 218, a ‘George d’Incre’ print which sold for £14,000.This proves to be a popular print whenever it comes to auction. Strong colours and an unusual design attract collectors to this work, and it continues to be sought after, as we well know having sold another one in the last auction.

_{Lot 117: Bob Dylan, American b.1941- Mondo Scripto, 2018}

Legendary musician Bob Dylan’s early print series ‘Mondo Scripto’ (lot 117) sold for an impressive £20,000, demonstrating the continuing strong interest in his work from collectors. Collectors are attracted to the series because of its relative rarity and they also enjoy reading the text passages incorporated into the piece. Commercial galleries have sold out of this edition, so the main route to buy a set such as this is at auction.

_{Lot 112: Bob Dylan, American b. 1941- Sunset in Monument Valley, a triptych}

A second highlight from Bob Dylan was ‘Sunset in Monument Valley’ (lot 112) which sold for £12,000. This print mimics the surface of the acrylic original which allegedly sold for $3,500,000. Unusually, this lot was a triptych and had dramatic colours which ensured its appeal. Collectors continue to seek out versions of this print.

_{Lot 331: Damien Hirst, British b. 1965- Empresses set of five: H10-1 Wu Zetian; H10-2 Nur Jahan; H10-3 Theodora; H10-4 Suiko; H10-5 Taytu Betul, 2022}

A set of ‘Empress’ prints by Damien Hirst - lot 331 - sold for £16,000. The set’s powerful red colouring on aluminium backing continued to attract collector interest and Hirst’s works remain very fashionable. This set produced in collaboration with the firm HENI has continued to be a good investment for collectors of the YBAs star’s work.

_{Lot 433: Banksy, British b.1974- I Fought The Law, 2004}

A relatively rare Banksy, ‘I Fought The Law’ sold for £12,000. Lot 433’s bold black-and-white composition with striking orange text had all of the hallmarks of a typical Banksy - a political message presented with irony and satire.

_{Lot 492: Grayson Perry,British b.1960- Recipe for Humanity, 2005}

A final highlight of March’s Prints & Multiples sale was lot 492, Grayson Perry’s ‘Recipe for Humanity’ which achieved £6,000 hammer - double its estimate. The unusual embroidered cloth work was of great interest to collectors because of its rarity on the market, and Perry’s particularly in-vogue status at present.

We greatly look forward to our next auction on June 15 and are currently accepting entries.