Within Shepard Fairey's print catalog, two formats command significant premiums over standard screen prints: Diamond Dust editions and HPM (Hand-Pulled Multiple) editions. Both involve manual processes applied on top of the base screen print. Both are also counterfeited in ways that are easy to detect with the right knowledge.
HPM: Hand-Pulled Multiple
An HPM is a screen print further worked by the artist's studio using hand-applied techniques: hand-cut paper collage elements, additional paint or ink layers, combined media. Each copy in the edition receives individual hand attention, creating subtle variation between works.
- Edition size: 50–150 (vs. 300–500 for standard)
- 2026 pricing: $1,200 – $4,500; premium examples $5,000–$9,000
- Premium over standard: 4× – 8×
HPM Authentication
- Physical collage elements show three-dimensional lift at edges, slight shadowing under raking light
- Hand-applied marks show natural variation in pressure — not mechanical reproduction
- Obey Giant Art blind stamp on verso
- Separate edition number sequence in Obey Giant archive (e.g., "HPM" designation)
Diamond Dust
Diamond Dust editions incorporate ultra-fine glass microbeads applied by hand to specific areas or the full print surface, creating a glittering effect that cannot be reproduced photographically.
- Edition size: 25–100 (the smallest standard editions in the catalog)
- 2026 pricing: $3,000 – $8,500; auction records $18,000–$22,000 (Phillips, Christie's)
- Premium over standard: 8× – 15×
The Diamond Dust Counterfeiting Trap
Anyone can apply glass beads to any print. Counterfeiters purchase legitimate standard prints, apply commercial microbeads, and sell the result as a Diamond Dust edition. To confirm genuine Diamond Dust:
- Archive verification: the specific work must appear in the Obey Giant archive as a Diamond Dust edition with its own edition number sequence (e.g., "DD 12/50")
- Provenance must trace to original sale at Obey Giant Art, an authorized gallery, or a documented auction
- Bead application quality: genuine studio applications are even and controlled; DIY shows uneven density, drips, or clustering
Comparison Table
| Feature | Standard | HPM | Diamond Dust |
|---|---|---|---|
| Edition size | 300–500 | 50–150 | 25–100 |
| Hand application | No | Yes (collage/paint) | Yes (glass beads) |
| Works identical | Yes | No | Mostly yes |
| 2026 price range | $200–$900 | $1,200–$4,500 | $3,000–$22,000 |
| Counterfeit risk | High | Medium | Very high |
