Shepard Fairey Master Index Dossier 05: 2022–2021 Release Cohort
Cohort scope
This dossier studies a defined cohort of 18 Shepard Fairey releases selected from the Gauntlet Gallery master index, spanning 2022 through 2021. The cohort begins with Good To See You and concludes with Unity - Obey Flower in the index sequence. It is designed as comparative research rather than as a set of isolated product summaries. The aim is to see how editions, media, publishers, and available public-sale evidence relate across a manageable group of releases.
The cohort contains 18 Screen Print. Recorded publishers include Obey Giant (16), RISD (1), Stolen Space (1). The index associates 653 cleaned public-sale observations with these entries in aggregate. That number is not a cohort valuation and should not be used as one. It simply describes the quantity of recorded transaction evidence currently available under the index methodology.
Why a cohort reading is useful
Fairey’s output is expansive enough that a single title can seem self-explanatory when viewed alone. In practice, a work becomes more intelligible when set beside other releases from a similar period or adjacent catalog sequence. A cohort can reveal a changing balance among screenprints, letterpress works, giclée editions, collaborations, music subjects, political graphics, and publisher relationships. It can also show where the market record is thick enough for comparison and where the available evidence remains too sparse for confident conclusions.
This report retains a necessary distinction between edition-level facts and individual objects. The master index provides a title, year, edition designation, stated edition size, medium, publisher, and observed sales data where available. An actual offered work requires separate inspection: images of the front and reverse, signature or edition notation when applicable, corners, margins, condition, framing, documentation, and seller history. The index organizes questions; it does not answer every question about a specific sheet.
How to read the release dossiers
Each entry below follows the master-index record. It does not invent a visual description or an authentication conclusion that the data cannot support. Instead, it identifies the indexed fields, explains why medium and edition language matter, and frames the recorded market evidence as a comparison tool rather than a guarantee. This methodology is deliberately conservative. In a category where listing titles and edition claims can drift, clarity about what is known is more useful than a more dramatic but unsupported narrative.
Good To See You
The master index records Good To See You as a 2022 release: First Edition, stated edition size 250, medium Screen Print, published by Obey Giant. This combination of fields establishes the entry’s edition-level identity. It does not establish the condition, completeness, or authenticity of any individual example offered for sale. The first task for a collector is to make sure that a listing’s title, medium, edition language, and publisher information genuinely correspond to this indexed record rather than merely resembling it.
The title itself belongs to the wider field of Fairey’s public-facing image practice, where language, symbolism, portraiture, and graphic design can function simultaneously. The master index is deliberately cautious here: it records the work name but does not attempt to turn an index title into a complete visual description. That restraint matters. A collector should consult high-quality images and primary release information before making a thematic interpretation. What can be said from the record is that Good To See You forms part of the 2022 release roster, and its medium and publisher place it within the production ecology tracked for that year.
Screenprint collectors should assess ink surface, paper character, margins, and handling carefully. The stated edition size of 250 is a supply descriptor, not a ranking system. It can help frame comparisons, but it does not determine desirability, condition, or eventual resale outcomes. A collector comparing examples should ask whether the works are genuinely the same edition, whether the notation is complete, whether any Artist’s Proof or variant language is involved, and whether the listing photographs support the claims being made. A smaller number is not a substitute for a clear object record.
The master index contains 23 cleaned public-sale observations for this entry. Its reported median is $130.00, with an observed low-to-high range of $99.00 to $249.00. These figures should be read as a set of past observations, not a valuation. The range may incorporate object-level differences, different sale dates, weak or strong documentation, framing, venue, and catalogue accuracy. Where the count is modest, each sale carries more weight and deserves closer scrutiny. Where the count is larger, it improves the available reference set but still does not remove the need to compare like with like. Asking prices are not included in the logic of this paragraph; completed transactions and listing claims are different kinds of evidence.
For an individual example of Good To See You, build a small research file before committing. Save the listing text, request full front and reverse photographs, inspect the signature and edition area if present, and document the corners and any condition issues. Retain invoices, certificates, and seller messages together. If framed, ask whether the work is floated, hinged, or mounted; ask about glazing, visible margins, and whether the frame is part of the purchase. This object file is a practical form of provenance. It does not manufacture certainty, but it preserves the evidence a collector actually has.
Within the 2022 yearbook, Good To See You is useful as a reminder that a release roster is not a shopping list. The index helps define the field of comparison, while the collector’s work is to decide which image, process, condition state, and documentation standard genuinely fit a collection. The strongest acquisition logic combines visual conviction with clear records and a realistic view of total cost, including shipping, framing, conservation, and the possibility of holding the work for a long time.
Eyes On The King Verdict
The master index records Eyes On The King Verdict as a 2022 release: First Edition, stated edition size 600, medium Screen Print, published by Obey Giant. This combination of fields establishes the entry’s edition-level identity. It does not establish the condition, completeness, or authenticity of any individual example offered for sale. The first task for a collector is to make sure that a listing’s title, medium, edition language, and publisher information genuinely correspond to this indexed record rather than merely resembling it.
The title itself belongs to the wider field of Fairey’s public-facing image practice, where language, symbolism, portraiture, and graphic design can function simultaneously. The master index is deliberately cautious here: it records the work name but does not attempt to turn an index title into a complete visual description. That restraint matters. A collector should consult high-quality images and primary release information before making a thematic interpretation. What can be said from the record is that Eyes On The King Verdict forms part of the 2022 release roster, and its medium and publisher place it within the production ecology tracked for that year.
Screenprint collectors should assess ink surface, paper character, margins, and handling carefully. The stated edition size of 600 is a supply descriptor, not a ranking system. It can help frame comparisons, but it does not determine desirability, condition, or eventual resale outcomes. A collector comparing examples should ask whether the works are genuinely the same edition, whether the notation is complete, whether any Artist’s Proof or variant language is involved, and whether the listing photographs support the claims being made. A smaller number is not a substitute for a clear object record.
The master index contains 18 cleaned public-sale observations for this entry. Its reported median is $190.00, with an observed low-to-high range of $95.00 to $630.00. These figures should be read as a set of past observations, not a valuation. The range may incorporate object-level differences, different sale dates, weak or strong documentation, framing, venue, and catalogue accuracy. Where the count is modest, each sale carries more weight and deserves closer scrutiny. Where the count is larger, it improves the available reference set but still does not remove the need to compare like with like. Asking prices are not included in the logic of this paragraph; completed transactions and listing claims are different kinds of evidence.
For an individual example of Eyes On The King Verdict, build a small research file before committing. Save the listing text, request full front and reverse photographs, inspect the signature and edition area if present, and document the corners and any condition issues. Retain invoices, certificates, and seller messages together. If framed, ask whether the work is floated, hinged, or mounted; ask about glazing, visible margins, and whether the frame is part of the purchase. This object file is a practical form of provenance. It does not manufacture certainty, but it preserves the evidence a collector actually has.
Within the 2022 yearbook, Eyes On The King Verdict is useful as a reminder that a release roster is not a shopping list. The index helps define the field of comparison, while the collector’s work is to decide which image, process, condition state, and documentation standard genuinely fit a collection. The strongest acquisition logic combines visual conviction with clear records and a realistic view of total cost, including shipping, framing, conservation, and the possibility of holding the work for a long time.
Alice Bag
The master index records Alice Bag as a 2022 release: First Edition, stated edition size 550, medium Screen Print, published by Obey Giant. This combination of fields establishes the entry’s edition-level identity. It does not establish the condition, completeness, or authenticity of any individual example offered for sale. The first task for a collector is to make sure that a listing’s title, medium, edition language, and publisher information genuinely correspond to this indexed record rather than merely resembling it.
The title itself belongs to the wider field of Fairey’s public-facing image practice, where language, symbolism, portraiture, and graphic design can function simultaneously. The master index is deliberately cautious here: it records the work name but does not attempt to turn an index title into a complete visual description. That restraint matters. A collector should consult high-quality images and primary release information before making a thematic interpretation. What can be said from the record is that Alice Bag forms part of the 2022 release roster, and its medium and publisher place it within the production ecology tracked for that year.
Screenprint collectors should assess ink surface, paper character, margins, and handling carefully. The stated edition size of 550 is a supply descriptor, not a ranking system. It can help frame comparisons, but it does not determine desirability, condition, or eventual resale outcomes. A collector comparing examples should ask whether the works are genuinely the same edition, whether the notation is complete, whether any Artist’s Proof or variant language is involved, and whether the listing photographs support the claims being made. A smaller number is not a substitute for a clear object record.
The master index contains 12 cleaned public-sale observations for this entry. Its reported median is $138.94, with an observed low-to-high range of $110.00 to $591.77. These figures should be read as a set of past observations, not a valuation. The range may incorporate object-level differences, different sale dates, weak or strong documentation, framing, venue, and catalogue accuracy. Where the count is modest, each sale carries more weight and deserves closer scrutiny. Where the count is larger, it improves the available reference set but still does not remove the need to compare like with like. Asking prices are not included in the logic of this paragraph; completed transactions and listing claims are different kinds of evidence.
For an individual example of Alice Bag, build a small research file before committing. Save the listing text, request full front and reverse photographs, inspect the signature and edition area if present, and document the corners and any condition issues. Retain invoices, certificates, and seller messages together. If framed, ask whether the work is floated, hinged, or mounted; ask about glazing, visible margins, and whether the frame is part of the purchase. This object file is a practical form of provenance. It does not manufacture certainty, but it preserves the evidence a collector actually has.
Within the 2022 yearbook, Alice Bag is useful as a reminder that a release roster is not a shopping list. The index helps define the field of comparison, while the collector’s work is to decide which image, process, condition state, and documentation standard genuinely fit a collection. The strongest acquisition logic combines visual conviction with clear records and a realistic view of total cost, including shipping, framing, conservation, and the possibility of holding the work for a long time.
Paradise Lost
The master index records Paradise Lost as a 2022 release: First Edition, stated edition size 575, medium Screen Print, published by Obey Giant. This combination of fields establishes the entry’s edition-level identity. It does not establish the condition, completeness, or authenticity of any individual example offered for sale. The first task for a collector is to make sure that a listing’s title, medium, edition language, and publisher information genuinely correspond to this indexed record rather than merely resembling it.
The title itself belongs to the wider field of Fairey’s public-facing image practice, where language, symbolism, portraiture, and graphic design can function simultaneously. The master index is deliberately cautious here: it records the work name but does not attempt to turn an index title into a complete visual description. That restraint matters. A collector should consult high-quality images and primary release information before making a thematic interpretation. What can be said from the record is that Paradise Lost forms part of the 2022 release roster, and its medium and publisher place it within the production ecology tracked for that year.
Screenprint collectors should assess ink surface, paper character, margins, and handling carefully. The stated edition size of 575 is a supply descriptor, not a ranking system. It can help frame comparisons, but it does not determine desirability, condition, or eventual resale outcomes. A collector comparing examples should ask whether the works are genuinely the same edition, whether the notation is complete, whether any Artist’s Proof or variant language is involved, and whether the listing photographs support the claims being made. A smaller number is not a substitute for a clear object record.
The master index contains 63 cleaned public-sale observations for this entry. Its reported median is $202.50, with an observed low-to-high range of $95.00 to $4,950.00. These figures should be read as a set of past observations, not a valuation. The range may incorporate object-level differences, different sale dates, weak or strong documentation, framing, venue, and catalogue accuracy. Where the count is modest, each sale carries more weight and deserves closer scrutiny. Where the count is larger, it improves the available reference set but still does not remove the need to compare like with like. Asking prices are not included in the logic of this paragraph; completed transactions and listing claims are different kinds of evidence.
For an individual example of Paradise Lost, build a small research file before committing. Save the listing text, request full front and reverse photographs, inspect the signature and edition area if present, and document the corners and any condition issues. Retain invoices, certificates, and seller messages together. If framed, ask whether the work is floated, hinged, or mounted; ask about glazing, visible margins, and whether the frame is part of the purchase. This object file is a practical form of provenance. It does not manufacture certainty, but it preserves the evidence a collector actually has.
Within the 2022 yearbook, Paradise Lost is useful as a reminder that a release roster is not a shopping list. The index helps define the field of comparison, while the collector’s work is to decide which image, process, condition state, and documentation standard genuinely fit a collection. The strongest acquisition logic combines visual conviction with clear records and a realistic view of total cost, including shipping, framing, conservation, and the possibility of holding the work for a long time.
Bad Brains - Fist & Flag
The master index records Bad Brains - Fist & Flag as a 2022 release: First Edition, stated edition size 600, medium Screen Print, published by Obey Giant. This combination of fields establishes the entry’s edition-level identity. It does not establish the condition, completeness, or authenticity of any individual example offered for sale. The first task for a collector is to make sure that a listing’s title, medium, edition language, and publisher information genuinely correspond to this indexed record rather than merely resembling it.
The title itself belongs to the wider field of Fairey’s public-facing image practice, where language, symbolism, portraiture, and graphic design can function simultaneously. The master index is deliberately cautious here: it records the work name but does not attempt to turn an index title into a complete visual description. That restraint matters. A collector should consult high-quality images and primary release information before making a thematic interpretation. What can be said from the record is that Bad Brains - Fist & Flag forms part of the 2022 release roster, and its medium and publisher place it within the production ecology tracked for that year.
Screenprint collectors should assess ink surface, paper character, margins, and handling carefully. The stated edition size of 600 is a supply descriptor, not a ranking system. It can help frame comparisons, but it does not determine desirability, condition, or eventual resale outcomes. A collector comparing examples should ask whether the works are genuinely the same edition, whether the notation is complete, whether any Artist’s Proof or variant language is involved, and whether the listing photographs support the claims being made. A smaller number is not a substitute for a clear object record.
The master index contains 22 cleaned public-sale observations for this entry. Its reported median is $130.00, with an observed low-to-high range of $98.00 to $561.00. These figures should be read as a set of past observations, not a valuation. The range may incorporate object-level differences, different sale dates, weak or strong documentation, framing, venue, and catalogue accuracy. Where the count is modest, each sale carries more weight and deserves closer scrutiny. Where the count is larger, it improves the available reference set but still does not remove the need to compare like with like. Asking prices are not included in the logic of this paragraph; completed transactions and listing claims are different kinds of evidence.
For an individual example of Bad Brains - Fist & Flag, build a small research file before committing. Save the listing text, request full front and reverse photographs, inspect the signature and edition area if present, and document the corners and any condition issues. Retain invoices, certificates, and seller messages together. If framed, ask whether the work is floated, hinged, or mounted; ask about glazing, visible margins, and whether the frame is part of the purchase. This object file is a practical form of provenance. It does not manufacture certainty, but it preserves the evidence a collector actually has.
Within the 2022 yearbook, Bad Brains - Fist & Flag is useful as a reminder that a release roster is not a shopping list. The index helps define the field of comparison, while the collector’s work is to decide which image, process, condition state, and documentation standard genuinely fit a collection. The strongest acquisition logic combines visual conviction with clear records and a realistic view of total cost, including shipping, framing, conservation, and the possibility of holding the work for a long time.
Desert Today Ocean Tomorrow
The master index records Desert Today Ocean Tomorrow as a 2022 release: First Edition, stated edition size 375, medium Screen Print, published by Obey Giant. This combination of fields establishes the entry’s edition-level identity. It does not establish the condition, completeness, or authenticity of any individual example offered for sale. The first task for a collector is to make sure that a listing’s title, medium, edition language, and publisher information genuinely correspond to this indexed record rather than merely resembling it.
The title itself belongs to the wider field of Fairey’s public-facing image practice, where language, symbolism, portraiture, and graphic design can function simultaneously. The master index is deliberately cautious here: it records the work name but does not attempt to turn an index title into a complete visual description. That restraint matters. A collector should consult high-quality images and primary release information before making a thematic interpretation. What can be said from the record is that Desert Today Ocean Tomorrow forms part of the 2022 release roster, and its medium and publisher place it within the production ecology tracked for that year.
Screenprint collectors should assess ink surface, paper character, margins, and handling carefully. The stated edition size of 375 is a supply descriptor, not a ranking system. It can help frame comparisons, but it does not determine desirability, condition, or eventual resale outcomes. A collector comparing examples should ask whether the works are genuinely the same edition, whether the notation is complete, whether any Artist’s Proof or variant language is involved, and whether the listing photographs support the claims being made. A smaller number is not a substitute for a clear object record.
The master index contains 31 cleaned public-sale observations for this entry. Its reported median is $179.99, with an observed low-to-high range of $109.00 to $380.00. These figures should be read as a set of past observations, not a valuation. The range may incorporate object-level differences, different sale dates, weak or strong documentation, framing, venue, and catalogue accuracy. Where the count is modest, each sale carries more weight and deserves closer scrutiny. Where the count is larger, it improves the available reference set but still does not remove the need to compare like with like. Asking prices are not included in the logic of this paragraph; completed transactions and listing claims are different kinds of evidence.
For an individual example of Desert Today Ocean Tomorrow, build a small research file before committing. Save the listing text, request full front and reverse photographs, inspect the signature and edition area if present, and document the corners and any condition issues. Retain invoices, certificates, and seller messages together. If framed, ask whether the work is floated, hinged, or mounted; ask about glazing, visible margins, and whether the frame is part of the purchase. This object file is a practical form of provenance. It does not manufacture certainty, but it preserves the evidence a collector actually has.
Within the 2022 yearbook, Desert Today Ocean Tomorrow is useful as a reminder that a release roster is not a shopping list. The index helps define the field of comparison, while the collector’s work is to decide which image, process, condition state, and documentation standard genuinely fit a collection. The strongest acquisition logic combines visual conviction with clear records and a realistic view of total cost, including shipping, framing, conservation, and the possibility of holding the work for a long time.
Ocean Today Desert Tomorrow
The master index records Ocean Today Desert Tomorrow as a 2022 release: First Edition, stated edition size 375, medium Screen Print, published by Obey Giant. This combination of fields establishes the entry’s edition-level identity. It does not establish the condition, completeness, or authenticity of any individual example offered for sale. The first task for a collector is to make sure that a listing’s title, medium, edition language, and publisher information genuinely correspond to this indexed record rather than merely resembling it.
The title itself belongs to the wider field of Fairey’s public-facing image practice, where language, symbolism, portraiture, and graphic design can function simultaneously. The master index is deliberately cautious here: it records the work name but does not attempt to turn an index title into a complete visual description. That restraint matters. A collector should consult high-quality images and primary release information before making a thematic interpretation. What can be said from the record is that Ocean Today Desert Tomorrow forms part of the 2022 release roster, and its medium and publisher place it within the production ecology tracked for that year.
Screenprint collectors should assess ink surface, paper character, margins, and handling carefully. The stated edition size of 375 is a supply descriptor, not a ranking system. It can help frame comparisons, but it does not determine desirability, condition, or eventual resale outcomes. A collector comparing examples should ask whether the works are genuinely the same edition, whether the notation is complete, whether any Artist’s Proof or variant language is involved, and whether the listing photographs support the claims being made. A smaller number is not a substitute for a clear object record.
The master index currently contains no cleaned public-sale observation for this entry under the reporting rules used here. This is a data gap, not a conclusion about scarcity, value, or demand. These figures should be read as a set of past observations, not a valuation. The range may incorporate object-level differences, different sale dates, weak or strong documentation, framing, venue, and catalogue accuracy. Where the count is modest, each sale carries more weight and deserves closer scrutiny. Where the count is larger, it improves the available reference set but still does not remove the need to compare like with like. Asking prices are not included in the logic of this paragraph; completed transactions and listing claims are different kinds of evidence.
For an individual example of Ocean Today Desert Tomorrow, build a small research file before committing. Save the listing text, request full front and reverse photographs, inspect the signature and edition area if present, and document the corners and any condition issues. Retain invoices, certificates, and seller messages together. If framed, ask whether the work is floated, hinged, or mounted; ask about glazing, visible margins, and whether the frame is part of the purchase. This object file is a practical form of provenance. It does not manufacture certainty, but it preserves the evidence a collector actually has.
Within the 2022 yearbook, Ocean Today Desert Tomorrow is useful as a reminder that a release roster is not a shopping list. The index helps define the field of comparison, while the collector’s work is to decide which image, process, condition state, and documentation standard genuinely fit a collection. The strongest acquisition logic combines visual conviction with clear records and a realistic view of total cost, including shipping, framing, conservation, and the possibility of holding the work for a long time.
The Future Is Equal
The master index records The Future Is Equal as a 2022 release: First Edition, stated edition size 600, medium Screen Print, published by Obey Giant. This combination of fields establishes the entry’s edition-level identity. It does not establish the condition, completeness, or authenticity of any individual example offered for sale. The first task for a collector is to make sure that a listing’s title, medium, edition language, and publisher information genuinely correspond to this indexed record rather than merely resembling it.
The title itself belongs to the wider field of Fairey’s public-facing image practice, where language, symbolism, portraiture, and graphic design can function simultaneously. The master index is deliberately cautious here: it records the work name but does not attempt to turn an index title into a complete visual description. That restraint matters. A collector should consult high-quality images and primary release information before making a thematic interpretation. What can be said from the record is that The Future Is Equal forms part of the 2022 release roster, and its medium and publisher place it within the production ecology tracked for that year.
Screenprint collectors should assess ink surface, paper character, margins, and handling carefully. The stated edition size of 600 is a supply descriptor, not a ranking system. It can help frame comparisons, but it does not determine desirability, condition, or eventual resale outcomes. A collector comparing examples should ask whether the works are genuinely the same edition, whether the notation is complete, whether any Artist’s Proof or variant language is involved, and whether the listing photographs support the claims being made. A smaller number is not a substitute for a clear object record.
The master index contains 79 cleaned public-sale observations for this entry. Its reported median is $188.99, with an observed low-to-high range of $99.00 to $743.21. These figures should be read as a set of past observations, not a valuation. The range may incorporate object-level differences, different sale dates, weak or strong documentation, framing, venue, and catalogue accuracy. Where the count is modest, each sale carries more weight and deserves closer scrutiny. Where the count is larger, it improves the available reference set but still does not remove the need to compare like with like. Asking prices are not included in the logic of this paragraph; completed transactions and listing claims are different kinds of evidence.
For an individual example of The Future Is Equal, build a small research file before committing. Save the listing text, request full front and reverse photographs, inspect the signature and edition area if present, and document the corners and any condition issues. Retain invoices, certificates, and seller messages together. If framed, ask whether the work is floated, hinged, or mounted; ask about glazing, visible margins, and whether the frame is part of the purchase. This object file is a practical form of provenance. It does not manufacture certainty, but it preserves the evidence a collector actually has.
Within the 2022 yearbook, The Future Is Equal is useful as a reminder that a release roster is not a shopping list. The index helps define the field of comparison, while the collector’s work is to decide which image, process, condition state, and documentation standard genuinely fit a collection. The strongest acquisition logic combines visual conviction with clear records and a realistic view of total cost, including shipping, framing, conservation, and the possibility of holding the work for a long time.
Open Minds
The master index records Open Minds as a 2022 release: First Edition, stated edition size 675, medium Screen Print, published by Obey Giant. This combination of fields establishes the entry’s edition-level identity. It does not establish the condition, completeness, or authenticity of any individual example offered for sale. The first task for a collector is to make sure that a listing’s title, medium, edition language, and publisher information genuinely correspond to this indexed record rather than merely resembling it.
The title itself belongs to the wider field of Fairey’s public-facing image practice, where language, symbolism, portraiture, and graphic design can function simultaneously. The master index is deliberately cautious here: it records the work name but does not attempt to turn an index title into a complete visual description. That restraint matters. A collector should consult high-quality images and primary release information before making a thematic interpretation. What can be said from the record is that Open Minds forms part of the 2022 release roster, and its medium and publisher place it within the production ecology tracked for that year.
Screenprint collectors should assess ink surface, paper character, margins, and handling carefully. The stated edition size of 675 is a supply descriptor, not a ranking system. It can help frame comparisons, but it does not determine desirability, condition, or eventual resale outcomes. A collector comparing examples should ask whether the works are genuinely the same edition, whether the notation is complete, whether any Artist’s Proof or variant language is involved, and whether the listing photographs support the claims being made. A smaller number is not a substitute for a clear object record.
The master index contains 70 cleaned public-sale observations for this entry. Its reported median is $175.00, with an observed low-to-high range of $95.00 to $3,500.00. These figures should be read as a set of past observations, not a valuation. The range may incorporate object-level differences, different sale dates, weak or strong documentation, framing, venue, and catalogue accuracy. Where the count is modest, each sale carries more weight and deserves closer scrutiny. Where the count is larger, it improves the available reference set but still does not remove the need to compare like with like. Asking prices are not included in the logic of this paragraph; completed transactions and listing claims are different kinds of evidence.
For an individual example of Open Minds, build a small research file before committing. Save the listing text, request full front and reverse photographs, inspect the signature and edition area if present, and document the corners and any condition issues. Retain invoices, certificates, and seller messages together. If framed, ask whether the work is floated, hinged, or mounted; ask about glazing, visible margins, and whether the frame is part of the purchase. This object file is a practical form of provenance. It does not manufacture certainty, but it preserves the evidence a collector actually has.
Within the 2022 yearbook, Open Minds is useful as a reminder that a release roster is not a shopping list. The index helps define the field of comparison, while the collector’s work is to decide which image, process, condition state, and documentation standard genuinely fit a collection. The strongest acquisition logic combines visual conviction with clear records and a realistic view of total cost, including shipping, framing, conservation, and the possibility of holding the work for a long time.
Fragile Cargo
The master index records Fragile Cargo as a 2022 release: First Edition, stated edition size 650, medium Screen Print, published by Obey Giant. This combination of fields establishes the entry’s edition-level identity. It does not establish the condition, completeness, or authenticity of any individual example offered for sale. The first task for a collector is to make sure that a listing’s title, medium, edition language, and publisher information genuinely correspond to this indexed record rather than merely resembling it.
The title itself belongs to the wider field of Fairey’s public-facing image practice, where language, symbolism, portraiture, and graphic design can function simultaneously. The master index is deliberately cautious here: it records the work name but does not attempt to turn an index title into a complete visual description. That restraint matters. A collector should consult high-quality images and primary release information before making a thematic interpretation. What can be said from the record is that Fragile Cargo forms part of the 2022 release roster, and its medium and publisher place it within the production ecology tracked for that year.
Screenprint collectors should assess ink surface, paper character, margins, and handling carefully. The stated edition size of 650 is a supply descriptor, not a ranking system. It can help frame comparisons, but it does not determine desirability, condition, or eventual resale outcomes. A collector comparing examples should ask whether the works are genuinely the same edition, whether the notation is complete, whether any Artist’s Proof or variant language is involved, and whether the listing photographs support the claims being made. A smaller number is not a substitute for a clear object record.
The master index contains 49 cleaned public-sale observations for this entry. Its reported median is $149.95, with an observed low-to-high range of $95.00 to $407.47. These figures should be read as a set of past observations, not a valuation. The range may incorporate object-level differences, different sale dates, weak or strong documentation, framing, venue, and catalogue accuracy. Where the count is modest, each sale carries more weight and deserves closer scrutiny. Where the count is larger, it improves the available reference set but still does not remove the need to compare like with like. Asking prices are not included in the logic of this paragraph; completed transactions and listing claims are different kinds of evidence.
For an individual example of Fragile Cargo, build a small research file before committing. Save the listing text, request full front and reverse photographs, inspect the signature and edition area if present, and document the corners and any condition issues. Retain invoices, certificates, and seller messages together. If framed, ask whether the work is floated, hinged, or mounted; ask about glazing, visible margins, and whether the frame is part of the purchase. This object file is a practical form of provenance. It does not manufacture certainty, but it preserves the evidence a collector actually has.
Within the 2022 yearbook, Fragile Cargo is useful as a reminder that a release roster is not a shopping list. The index helps define the field of comparison, while the collector’s work is to decide which image, process, condition state, and documentation standard genuinely fit a collection. The strongest acquisition logic combines visual conviction with clear records and a realistic view of total cost, including shipping, framing, conservation, and the possibility of holding the work for a long time.
Bedtime For Democracy
The master index records Bedtime For Democracy as a 2021 release: First Edition, stated edition size 50, medium Screen Print, published by Obey Giant. This combination of fields establishes the entry’s edition-level identity. It does not establish the condition, completeness, or authenticity of any individual example offered for sale. The first task for a collector is to make sure that a listing’s title, medium, edition language, and publisher information genuinely correspond to this indexed record rather than merely resembling it.
The title itself belongs to the wider field of Fairey’s public-facing image practice, where language, symbolism, portraiture, and graphic design can function simultaneously. The master index is deliberately cautious here: it records the work name but does not attempt to turn an index title into a complete visual description. That restraint matters. A collector should consult high-quality images and primary release information before making a thematic interpretation. What can be said from the record is that Bedtime For Democracy forms part of the 2021 release roster, and its medium and publisher place it within the production ecology tracked for that year.
Screenprint collectors should assess ink surface, paper character, margins, and handling carefully. The stated edition size of 50 is a supply descriptor, not a ranking system. It can help frame comparisons, but it does not determine desirability, condition, or eventual resale outcomes. A collector comparing examples should ask whether the works are genuinely the same edition, whether the notation is complete, whether any Artist’s Proof or variant language is involved, and whether the listing photographs support the claims being made. A smaller number is not a substitute for a clear object record.
The master index contains 20 cleaned public-sale observations for this entry. Its reported median is $318.75, with an observed low-to-high range of $100.00 to $16,500.00. These figures should be read as a set of past observations, not a valuation. The range may incorporate object-level differences, different sale dates, weak or strong documentation, framing, venue, and catalogue accuracy. Where the count is modest, each sale carries more weight and deserves closer scrutiny. Where the count is larger, it improves the available reference set but still does not remove the need to compare like with like. Asking prices are not included in the logic of this paragraph; completed transactions and listing claims are different kinds of evidence.
For an individual example of Bedtime For Democracy, build a small research file before committing. Save the listing text, request full front and reverse photographs, inspect the signature and edition area if present, and document the corners and any condition issues. Retain invoices, certificates, and seller messages together. If framed, ask whether the work is floated, hinged, or mounted; ask about glazing, visible margins, and whether the frame is part of the purchase. This object file is a practical form of provenance. It does not manufacture certainty, but it preserves the evidence a collector actually has.
Within the 2021 yearbook, Bedtime For Democracy is useful as a reminder that a release roster is not a shopping list. The index helps define the field of comparison, while the collector’s work is to decide which image, process, condition state, and documentation standard genuinely fit a collection. The strongest acquisition logic combines visual conviction with clear records and a realistic view of total cost, including shipping, framing, conservation, and the possibility of holding the work for a long time.
People’s Discontent
The master index records People’s Discontent as a 2021 release: First Edition, stated edition size 550, medium Screen Print, published by Obey Giant. This combination of fields establishes the entry’s edition-level identity. It does not establish the condition, completeness, or authenticity of any individual example offered for sale. The first task for a collector is to make sure that a listing’s title, medium, edition language, and publisher information genuinely correspond to this indexed record rather than merely resembling it.
The title itself belongs to the wider field of Fairey’s public-facing image practice, where language, symbolism, portraiture, and graphic design can function simultaneously. The master index is deliberately cautious here: it records the work name but does not attempt to turn an index title into a complete visual description. That restraint matters. A collector should consult high-quality images and primary release information before making a thematic interpretation. What can be said from the record is that People’s Discontent forms part of the 2021 release roster, and its medium and publisher place it within the production ecology tracked for that year.
Screenprint collectors should assess ink surface, paper character, margins, and handling carefully. The stated edition size of 550 is a supply descriptor, not a ranking system. It can help frame comparisons, but it does not determine desirability, condition, or eventual resale outcomes. A collector comparing examples should ask whether the works are genuinely the same edition, whether the notation is complete, whether any Artist’s Proof or variant language is involved, and whether the listing photographs support the claims being made. A smaller number is not a substitute for a clear object record.
The master index contains 17 cleaned public-sale observations for this entry. Its reported median is $189.99, with an observed low-to-high range of $139.99 to $399.99. These figures should be read as a set of past observations, not a valuation. The range may incorporate object-level differences, different sale dates, weak or strong documentation, framing, venue, and catalogue accuracy. Where the count is modest, each sale carries more weight and deserves closer scrutiny. Where the count is larger, it improves the available reference set but still does not remove the need to compare like with like. Asking prices are not included in the logic of this paragraph; completed transactions and listing claims are different kinds of evidence.
For an individual example of People’s Discontent, build a small research file before committing. Save the listing text, request full front and reverse photographs, inspect the signature and edition area if present, and document the corners and any condition issues. Retain invoices, certificates, and seller messages together. If framed, ask whether the work is floated, hinged, or mounted; ask about glazing, visible margins, and whether the frame is part of the purchase. This object file is a practical form of provenance. It does not manufacture certainty, but it preserves the evidence a collector actually has.
Within the 2021 yearbook, People’s Discontent is useful as a reminder that a release roster is not a shopping list. The index helps define the field of comparison, while the collector’s work is to decide which image, process, condition state, and documentation standard genuinely fit a collection. The strongest acquisition logic combines visual conviction with clear records and a realistic view of total cost, including shipping, framing, conservation, and the possibility of holding the work for a long time.
Rise Above Flower
The master index records Rise Above Flower as a 2021 release: First Edition, stated edition size 625, medium Screen Print, published by Obey Giant. This combination of fields establishes the entry’s edition-level identity. It does not establish the condition, completeness, or authenticity of any individual example offered for sale. The first task for a collector is to make sure that a listing’s title, medium, edition language, and publisher information genuinely correspond to this indexed record rather than merely resembling it.
The title itself belongs to the wider field of Fairey’s public-facing image practice, where language, symbolism, portraiture, and graphic design can function simultaneously. The master index is deliberately cautious here: it records the work name but does not attempt to turn an index title into a complete visual description. That restraint matters. A collector should consult high-quality images and primary release information before making a thematic interpretation. What can be said from the record is that Rise Above Flower forms part of the 2021 release roster, and its medium and publisher place it within the production ecology tracked for that year.
Screenprint collectors should assess ink surface, paper character, margins, and handling carefully. The stated edition size of 625 is a supply descriptor, not a ranking system. It can help frame comparisons, but it does not determine desirability, condition, or eventual resale outcomes. A collector comparing examples should ask whether the works are genuinely the same edition, whether the notation is complete, whether any Artist’s Proof or variant language is involved, and whether the listing photographs support the claims being made. A smaller number is not a substitute for a clear object record.
The master index contains 96 cleaned public-sale observations for this entry. Its reported median is $229.38, with an observed low-to-high range of $93.88 to $3,500.00. These figures should be read as a set of past observations, not a valuation. The range may incorporate object-level differences, different sale dates, weak or strong documentation, framing, venue, and catalogue accuracy. Where the count is modest, each sale carries more weight and deserves closer scrutiny. Where the count is larger, it improves the available reference set but still does not remove the need to compare like with like. Asking prices are not included in the logic of this paragraph; completed transactions and listing claims are different kinds of evidence.
For an individual example of Rise Above Flower, build a small research file before committing. Save the listing text, request full front and reverse photographs, inspect the signature and edition area if present, and document the corners and any condition issues. Retain invoices, certificates, and seller messages together. If framed, ask whether the work is floated, hinged, or mounted; ask about glazing, visible margins, and whether the frame is part of the purchase. This object file is a practical form of provenance. It does not manufacture certainty, but it preserves the evidence a collector actually has.
Within the 2021 yearbook, Rise Above Flower is useful as a reminder that a release roster is not a shopping list. The index helps define the field of comparison, while the collector’s work is to decide which image, process, condition state, and documentation standard genuinely fit a collection. The strongest acquisition logic combines visual conviction with clear records and a realistic view of total cost, including shipping, framing, conservation, and the possibility of holding the work for a long time.
Scratch On The Wire
The master index records Scratch On The Wire as a 2021 release: First Edition, stated edition size 600, medium Screen Print, published by Obey Giant. This combination of fields establishes the entry’s edition-level identity. It does not establish the condition, completeness, or authenticity of any individual example offered for sale. The first task for a collector is to make sure that a listing’s title, medium, edition language, and publisher information genuinely correspond to this indexed record rather than merely resembling it.
The title itself belongs to the wider field of Fairey’s public-facing image practice, where language, symbolism, portraiture, and graphic design can function simultaneously. The master index is deliberately cautious here: it records the work name but does not attempt to turn an index title into a complete visual description. That restraint matters. A collector should consult high-quality images and primary release information before making a thematic interpretation. What can be said from the record is that Scratch On The Wire forms part of the 2021 release roster, and its medium and publisher place it within the production ecology tracked for that year.
Screenprint collectors should assess ink surface, paper character, margins, and handling carefully. The stated edition size of 600 is a supply descriptor, not a ranking system. It can help frame comparisons, but it does not determine desirability, condition, or eventual resale outcomes. A collector comparing examples should ask whether the works are genuinely the same edition, whether the notation is complete, whether any Artist’s Proof or variant language is involved, and whether the listing photographs support the claims being made. A smaller number is not a substitute for a clear object record.
The master index contains 20 cleaned public-sale observations for this entry. Its reported median is $157.49, with an observed low-to-high range of $98.00 to $266.60. These figures should be read as a set of past observations, not a valuation. The range may incorporate object-level differences, different sale dates, weak or strong documentation, framing, venue, and catalogue accuracy. Where the count is modest, each sale carries more weight and deserves closer scrutiny. Where the count is larger, it improves the available reference set but still does not remove the need to compare like with like. Asking prices are not included in the logic of this paragraph; completed transactions and listing claims are different kinds of evidence.
For an individual example of Scratch On The Wire, build a small research file before committing. Save the listing text, request full front and reverse photographs, inspect the signature and edition area if present, and document the corners and any condition issues. Retain invoices, certificates, and seller messages together. If framed, ask whether the work is floated, hinged, or mounted; ask about glazing, visible margins, and whether the frame is part of the purchase. This object file is a practical form of provenance. It does not manufacture certainty, but it preserves the evidence a collector actually has.
Within the 2021 yearbook, Scratch On The Wire is useful as a reminder that a release roster is not a shopping list. The index helps define the field of comparison, while the collector’s work is to decide which image, process, condition state, and documentation standard genuinely fit a collection. The strongest acquisition logic combines visual conviction with clear records and a realistic view of total cost, including shipping, framing, conservation, and the possibility of holding the work for a long time.
The Future Is Unwritten Collage
The master index records The Future Is Unwritten Collage as a 2021 release: First Edition, stated edition size 300, medium Screen Print, published by RISD. This combination of fields establishes the entry’s edition-level identity. It does not establish the condition, completeness, or authenticity of any individual example offered for sale. The first task for a collector is to make sure that a listing’s title, medium, edition language, and publisher information genuinely correspond to this indexed record rather than merely resembling it.
The title itself belongs to the wider field of Fairey’s public-facing image practice, where language, symbolism, portraiture, and graphic design can function simultaneously. The master index is deliberately cautious here: it records the work name but does not attempt to turn an index title into a complete visual description. That restraint matters. A collector should consult high-quality images and primary release information before making a thematic interpretation. What can be said from the record is that The Future Is Unwritten Collage forms part of the 2021 release roster, and its medium and publisher place it within the production ecology tracked for that year.
Screenprint collectors should assess ink surface, paper character, margins, and handling carefully. The stated edition size of 300 is a supply descriptor, not a ranking system. It can help frame comparisons, but it does not determine desirability, condition, or eventual resale outcomes. A collector comparing examples should ask whether the works are genuinely the same edition, whether the notation is complete, whether any Artist’s Proof or variant language is involved, and whether the listing photographs support the claims being made. A smaller number is not a substitute for a clear object record.
The master index contains 32 cleaned public-sale observations for this entry. Its reported median is $250.00, with an observed low-to-high range of $98.00 to $399.99. These figures should be read as a set of past observations, not a valuation. The range may incorporate object-level differences, different sale dates, weak or strong documentation, framing, venue, and catalogue accuracy. Where the count is modest, each sale carries more weight and deserves closer scrutiny. Where the count is larger, it improves the available reference set but still does not remove the need to compare like with like. Asking prices are not included in the logic of this paragraph; completed transactions and listing claims are different kinds of evidence.
For an individual example of The Future Is Unwritten Collage, build a small research file before committing. Save the listing text, request full front and reverse photographs, inspect the signature and edition area if present, and document the corners and any condition issues. Retain invoices, certificates, and seller messages together. If framed, ask whether the work is floated, hinged, or mounted; ask about glazing, visible margins, and whether the frame is part of the purchase. This object file is a practical form of provenance. It does not manufacture certainty, but it preserves the evidence a collector actually has.
Within the 2021 yearbook, The Future Is Unwritten Collage is useful as a reminder that a release roster is not a shopping list. The index helps define the field of comparison, while the collector’s work is to decide which image, process, condition state, and documentation standard genuinely fit a collection. The strongest acquisition logic combines visual conviction with clear records and a realistic view of total cost, including shipping, framing, conservation, and the possibility of holding the work for a long time.
Protect Biodiversity - Cultivate Harmony
The master index records Protect Biodiversity - Cultivate Harmony as a 2021 release: First Edition, stated edition size 500, medium Screen Print, published by Obey Giant. This combination of fields establishes the entry’s edition-level identity. It does not establish the condition, completeness, or authenticity of any individual example offered for sale. The first task for a collector is to make sure that a listing’s title, medium, edition language, and publisher information genuinely correspond to this indexed record rather than merely resembling it.
The title itself belongs to the wider field of Fairey’s public-facing image practice, where language, symbolism, portraiture, and graphic design can function simultaneously. The master index is deliberately cautious here: it records the work name but does not attempt to turn an index title into a complete visual description. That restraint matters. A collector should consult high-quality images and primary release information before making a thematic interpretation. What can be said from the record is that Protect Biodiversity - Cultivate Harmony forms part of the 2021 release roster, and its medium and publisher place it within the production ecology tracked for that year.
Screenprint collectors should assess ink surface, paper character, margins, and handling carefully. The stated edition size of 500 is a supply descriptor, not a ranking system. It can help frame comparisons, but it does not determine desirability, condition, or eventual resale outcomes. A collector comparing examples should ask whether the works are genuinely the same edition, whether the notation is complete, whether any Artist’s Proof or variant language is involved, and whether the listing photographs support the claims being made. A smaller number is not a substitute for a clear object record.
The master index contains 67 cleaned public-sale observations for this entry. Its reported median is $180.00, with an observed low-to-high range of $100.00 to $420.00. These figures should be read as a set of past observations, not a valuation. The range may incorporate object-level differences, different sale dates, weak or strong documentation, framing, venue, and catalogue accuracy. Where the count is modest, each sale carries more weight and deserves closer scrutiny. Where the count is larger, it improves the available reference set but still does not remove the need to compare like with like. Asking prices are not included in the logic of this paragraph; completed transactions and listing claims are different kinds of evidence.
For an individual example of Protect Biodiversity - Cultivate Harmony, build a small research file before committing. Save the listing text, request full front and reverse photographs, inspect the signature and edition area if present, and document the corners and any condition issues. Retain invoices, certificates, and seller messages together. If framed, ask whether the work is floated, hinged, or mounted; ask about glazing, visible margins, and whether the frame is part of the purchase. This object file is a practical form of provenance. It does not manufacture certainty, but it preserves the evidence a collector actually has.
Within the 2021 yearbook, Protect Biodiversity - Cultivate Harmony is useful as a reminder that a release roster is not a shopping list. The index helps define the field of comparison, while the collector’s work is to decide which image, process, condition state, and documentation standard genuinely fit a collection. The strongest acquisition logic combines visual conviction with clear records and a realistic view of total cost, including shipping, framing, conservation, and the possibility of holding the work for a long time.
Lemmy Damaged Case
The master index records Lemmy Damaged Case as a 2021 release: First Edition, stated edition size 550, medium Screen Print, published by Obey Giant. This combination of fields establishes the entry’s edition-level identity. It does not establish the condition, completeness, or authenticity of any individual example offered for sale. The first task for a collector is to make sure that a listing’s title, medium, edition language, and publisher information genuinely correspond to this indexed record rather than merely resembling it.
The title itself belongs to the wider field of Fairey’s public-facing image practice, where language, symbolism, portraiture, and graphic design can function simultaneously. The master index is deliberately cautious here: it records the work name but does not attempt to turn an index title into a complete visual description. That restraint matters. A collector should consult high-quality images and primary release information before making a thematic interpretation. What can be said from the record is that Lemmy Damaged Case forms part of the 2021 release roster, and its medium and publisher place it within the production ecology tracked for that year.
Screenprint collectors should assess ink surface, paper character, margins, and handling carefully. The stated edition size of 550 is a supply descriptor, not a ranking system. It can help frame comparisons, but it does not determine desirability, condition, or eventual resale outcomes. A collector comparing examples should ask whether the works are genuinely the same edition, whether the notation is complete, whether any Artist’s Proof or variant language is involved, and whether the listing photographs support the claims being made. A smaller number is not a substitute for a clear object record.
The master index contains 34 cleaned public-sale observations for this entry. Its reported median is $212.09, with an observed low-to-high range of $105.00 to $498.88. These figures should be read as a set of past observations, not a valuation. The range may incorporate object-level differences, different sale dates, weak or strong documentation, framing, venue, and catalogue accuracy. Where the count is modest, each sale carries more weight and deserves closer scrutiny. Where the count is larger, it improves the available reference set but still does not remove the need to compare like with like. Asking prices are not included in the logic of this paragraph; completed transactions and listing claims are different kinds of evidence.
For an individual example of Lemmy Damaged Case, build a small research file before committing. Save the listing text, request full front and reverse photographs, inspect the signature and edition area if present, and document the corners and any condition issues. Retain invoices, certificates, and seller messages together. If framed, ask whether the work is floated, hinged, or mounted; ask about glazing, visible margins, and whether the frame is part of the purchase. This object file is a practical form of provenance. It does not manufacture certainty, but it preserves the evidence a collector actually has.
Within the 2021 yearbook, Lemmy Damaged Case is useful as a reminder that a release roster is not a shopping list. The index helps define the field of comparison, while the collector’s work is to decide which image, process, condition state, and documentation standard genuinely fit a collection. The strongest acquisition logic combines visual conviction with clear records and a realistic view of total cost, including shipping, framing, conservation, and the possibility of holding the work for a long time.
Unity - Obey Flower
The master index records Unity - Obey Flower as a 2021 release: First Edition, stated edition size 150, medium Screen Print, published by Stolen Space. This combination of fields establishes the entry’s edition-level identity. It does not establish the condition, completeness, or authenticity of any individual example offered for sale. The first task for a collector is to make sure that a listing’s title, medium, edition language, and publisher information genuinely correspond to this indexed record rather than merely resembling it.
The title itself belongs to the wider field of Fairey’s public-facing image practice, where language, symbolism, portraiture, and graphic design can function simultaneously. The master index is deliberately cautious here: it records the work name but does not attempt to turn an index title into a complete visual description. That restraint matters. A collector should consult high-quality images and primary release information before making a thematic interpretation. What can be said from the record is that Unity - Obey Flower forms part of the 2021 release roster, and its medium and publisher place it within the production ecology tracked for that year.
Screenprint collectors should assess ink surface, paper character, margins, and handling carefully. The stated edition size of 150 is a supply descriptor, not a ranking system. It can help frame comparisons, but it does not determine desirability, condition, or eventual resale outcomes. A collector comparing examples should ask whether the works are genuinely the same edition, whether the notation is complete, whether any Artist’s Proof or variant language is involved, and whether the listing photographs support the claims being made. A smaller number is not a substitute for a clear object record.
The master index currently contains no cleaned public-sale observation for this entry under the reporting rules used here. This is a data gap, not a conclusion about scarcity, value, or demand. These figures should be read as a set of past observations, not a valuation. The range may incorporate object-level differences, different sale dates, weak or strong documentation, framing, venue, and catalogue accuracy. Where the count is modest, each sale carries more weight and deserves closer scrutiny. Where the count is larger, it improves the available reference set but still does not remove the need to compare like with like. Asking prices are not included in the logic of this paragraph; completed transactions and listing claims are different kinds of evidence.
For an individual example of Unity - Obey Flower, build a small research file before committing. Save the listing text, request full front and reverse photographs, inspect the signature and edition area if present, and document the corners and any condition issues. Retain invoices, certificates, and seller messages together. If framed, ask whether the work is floated, hinged, or mounted; ask about glazing, visible margins, and whether the frame is part of the purchase. This object file is a practical form of provenance. It does not manufacture certainty, but it preserves the evidence a collector actually has.
Within the 2021 yearbook, Unity - Obey Flower is useful as a reminder that a release roster is not a shopping list. The index helps define the field of comparison, while the collector’s work is to decide which image, process, condition state, and documentation standard genuinely fit a collection. The strongest acquisition logic combines visual conviction with clear records and a realistic view of total cost, including shipping, framing, conservation, and the possibility of holding the work for a long time.
Research appendix: making a durable annual record
The 2005 roster should be treated as an invitation to compare records, not as a final authority over an object. Indexing is a disciplined form of reduction: it turns a complicated work into fields that can be compared across a large corpus. Title, year, edition designation, edition size, medium, publisher, and observed sales are enormously useful fields, but none of them describes the complete life of an individual sheet. The release record establishes a research hypothesis. The object, images, paperwork, and chain of custody either support that hypothesis or complicate it.
This distinction is especially valuable for print collecting because the edition is both a group and a set of individual objects. Two impressions can share a title, date, and numbered edition while having very different visual presence because of paper handling, corner condition, prior framing, light exposure, ink surface, or a missing document. The annual index cannot adjudicate those differences. It can help a collector recognize that they matter, build a list of questions before purchase, and preserve an answer after purchase.
When using comparable sales, record more than the number. Save the sale date, venue, title language, edition notation, whether the object was signed or numbered, the visible condition, and whether a frame or certificate was included. Then ask whether the offered work matches those conditions closely enough to make the comparison informative. A low result may reflect damage or uncertainty; a high result may reflect presentation, provenance, timing, or an unusually motivated buyer. The most honest conclusion is often a range of possibilities rather than a single target price.
The same caution applies to publisher and medium. A publisher credit helps distinguish a release context, and a stated process tells a collector what object-level details to inspect. Neither field is a quality guarantee. A screenprint, letterpress, lithograph, or other process should be described correctly and evaluated according to its material realities. If the listing evidence is incomplete, the appropriate response is to ask for better documentation or to price uncertainty into the decision—not to fill gaps with assumptions.
For records management, keep a single folder for each acquisition. Include the original listing, an invoice, the seller correspondence, full arrival photographs, condition notes, any certificate, and a framing record. Photograph the front, reverse, signature or edition area, and corners before the work is framed or moved. If the work is insured, add the policy record. These small steps make a collection legible to its future self. They also allow a collector to describe an object accurately without relying on memory years later.
Finally, collect with a point of view. An annual release roster can encourage completism, but completeness is not the only coherent strategy. A collection may be organized around political graphics, music-related work, ornamental imagery, a particular print process, a publisher relationship, or simply the works that remain visually compelling over time. The purpose of research is not to eliminate taste. It is to give taste a stronger factual foundation and to make the eventual choice clearer, more defensible, and easier to live with.
Dossier 05: collector conclusions
The value of a comparative cohort is not that it ranks the releases automatically. It gives a collector a structured field of view. The entries may share a period or catalog proximity while differing sharply in process, stated edition size, publisher, subject, and market visibility. Those differences should lead to better questions, not to a simplistic hierarchy.
For any offered example, begin with the exact index record and then build an object file: preserve the listing, request clear front and reverse photographs, inspect edition and signature information where relevant, note condition, and save invoices and correspondence. Compare completed sales only after accounting for meaningful differences in medium, edition, condition, documentation, framing, timing, and venue. The most durable collection is built around works that are visually persuasive and administratively legible.
Continue research through the Shepard Fairey collection, the buyer’s guide, the authentication checklist, and the price guide. This dossier is an index-led research aid, not an appraisal or forecast.
