Top Prints & Editions Sales 2024

The new auction calendar year begins with a focus on print sales, setting the stage for the months ahead. The momentum kicks off in January with the London Art Fair, followed by Phillips January Editions sale, leading into a series of monthly print sales that establish the tone for the first half of the auction year. In this article, we've compiled the top ten global print sales of H1 2024.

Image © Sotheby's / Astronauts © Andy Warhol 1963

10.

Astronauts

In March, Sotheby's Contemporary Curated sale featured Andy Warhol's Astronaut (1963), which sold for £501,752, setting a new record for the print. Last seen at auction in 2010, this piece ranks among the top-selling prints and editions of H1 2024.

Image © Christie's / Kanagawa oki nami ura (Under the well of the Great Wave off Kanagawa) [“Great Wave”] © Hokusai

Kanagawa oki nami ura (Under the well of the Great Wave off Kanagawa)

In March, Japanese artist Katsushika Hokusai's Great Wave sold for £544,406 with fees, far surpassing its £157,000 high estimate at Christie's Japanese and Korean Art sale, making it one of the top-selling prints of H1 2024.

Flags I © Jasper Johns 1973 Buy or Sell 'Flags I'

Flags I

In May, Jasper Johns' Flags I (1973) set a new auction record for this edition, selling for £857,781 with fees at Sotheby's Contemporary Day Auction.

Campbell's Soup I (complete set) © Andy Warhol 1968

Campbells Soup I

Warhol's Campbell's Soup (complete set) (1968) sold at Christie's London 20th/21st Century Evening Sale in March 2024, achieving £882,000 with fees.

Ten Portraits Of Jews Of The Twentieth Century (complete set) © Andy Warhol 1980 Buy or Sell 'Ten Portraits Of Jews Of The Twentieth Century (complete set)'

Ten Portraits Of Jews Of The Twenith Century

Warhol's dominance was evident at Vienna's Dorotheum in May, where Ten Portraits of Jews of the Twentieth Century (complete set) (1980) sold for £925,560, surpassing its high estimate of £510,600 and setting a new auction record for this set.

Image © Christie's / La Suite Vollard © Pablo Picasso c.1930-37

La Suite Vollard

Pablo Picasso's La Suite Vollard (circa 1930-37) appeared at Christie's May Impressionist and Modern Works on Paper sale in New York, selling for £932,395 with fees.

Image © Christie's / Flower Thrower Triptych © Banksy 2010

Flower Thrower (trip-tych)

In February, Christie's showcased the Elton John Collection, featuring a Banksy Flower Thrower triptych (2010) presented in the artist's signature gold frame. Making its auction debut, this work realised £1.5 million against a high estimate of £1.1 million, setting a new record for this editioned work.

Flowers (complete set)

Warhol's Flowers (complete set) (1970) sold in June at the German auction house Ketterer Kunst, achieving £1.5 million with fees, surpassing the high estimate of £1 million.

Image © Christie's / Fugaku sanjurokkei (Thirty-six views of Mount Fuji) © Hokusai c. 1830-34

Katsushika Hokusai

Hokusai's Fugaku Sanjurokkei (Thirty-six Views of Mount Fuji) (c. 1830-1840), a complete set of 46 prints, sold for £2.8 million with fees at Christie's Japanese and Korean Art auction in May 2024. This sale set a new auction record for the artist and ranked among the top-selling prints of H1 2024.

Marilyn (complete set) © Andy Warhol 1967

Marilyn Monroe (complete set)

The top-selling print work of H1 2024 is Warhol's complete set of Marilyn screenprints, which sold at Christie's May New York auction, hammering at the low estimate and achieving £2.9 million with fees.

Continue reading to explore the top prints and edition sales of 2023.