On Lithographs, Serigraphs And Screenprints

We buy prints. But we are selective. Real prints (lithographs, serigraphs, screenprints, etc., by famous artists) can be worth a lot of money. We have been fortunate to have sold Andy Warhol prints for as much as $50,000 for a short edition of only 5 made (a panda), to as little as $2,500 for a bean soup can print that was a water-damaged insurance salvage.

We even buy a few cruise ship prints, especially those by Leroy Nieman and Peter Max, but usually for a small fraction of their original price. We’ve warned about cruise ship prints in the past. Some are not true prints at all, but simple dot matrix posters with fancy COAs whose careful wording notes they are simple copies of prints. (We pass on 99% of cruise ship prints, only buying BIG names and usually for 10% to 33% of the cruise ship price. Think of these as
souvenirs, not investments.)

screenprints

Value On These Items Can Vary Widely

With prints, there are techniques and terminologies that confuse people. The differences between lithographs, serigraphs, posters, pop art prints, and screenprints are varied, with names like Andy Warhol, Peter Max, Roy
Lichtenstein, Yaacov Agam, Robert Indiana and Keith Haring often bringing $1,000 to $50,000. (Pablo Picasso etchings, from his lifetime, can bring $5,000 to $1 million!)

While vintage posters associated with pre-1970s art shows or pre – 1950s political events may be valuable, beware
of mass-produced posters that were used for advertising or decorative purposes. Even when signed by the artist they
are worth very little. Peter Max, for instance, sold thousands of signed posters on QVC that are worth $50 to $200. These posters are usually printed on thin paper and in large quantities.

And please note, lithographs, serigraphs, etc., are prints, not paintings. We are ready to buy these for cash and will beat
99% of all offers – or we can sell for you at auction.

Three former Sothebyscom associates and three art historians
on staff. We will buy for cash or consign to auction
any of your rare, valuable antiques, prints, jewelry
or artwork. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.

This is an archival article formerly written and is for informational purposes only. The valuations in this article have likely changed since it was first written.

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