Is Banksys signature worth it?

[Michael Jacob]

Hello forum.
I want to buy my first Banksy. I plan on keeping it, but needless to say its a investment at the kind of money i will be paying. The signed pieces go for alot more. Is it really worth it in the long run? Any help (or opinion) is appreciated. Also, let me know if you have anything for sale. Thanks.

Jake

[corblimeylimey]

The gap between signed and unsigned is growing, as for the long term who knows.

For me the signed are too expensive, and I'm happy with unsigned, after all they look just as good, and even as an investment they still stand up IMO.

[victorwilliams]

corblimeylimey said:

The gap between signed and unsigned is growing, as for the long term who knows.

For me the signed are too expensive, and I'm happy with unsigned, after all they look just as good, and even as an investment they still stand up IMO.

i second that sound advise, but as corb says the gab is growing so if u can afford a signed one then go of one.

[Michael Jacob]

thanks for the advice. thats a tough call. do you go for rarer unsigned or a signed more common one? Decisions decisions...

[corblimeylimey]

IMO I would go for a rare unsigned over a possibly cheaper signed less desirable image, just my opinion.

[mammal2]

i agree corblimey

[willamsa]

craz,
I'd go for an image you love, don't just buy a banksy because its a banksy, if you intend on keeping then getting one you like means you'll enjoy it even more.

I agree the gap between signed and unsigned is going to continue to widen (imo)
if you can find a signed and afford it now I doubt you'll regret it in the long run.

good luck

[bond]

Hi - if you had a pot of cash , what would you pay for a signed Grin ? - It's my favourite but the current £2 + is frightening !! thanks

[RBK]

Signed works will 'hold' their value better than Unsigned. However you can usually buy 2 unsigned prints you like for the price of 1 signed.

I can relate to your desire for a signed one - but a lot of that comes down to timing (what's available) and price (status of your bank account). While I can say that I have almost every Banksy print I want; none of mine have that glorious signature - and I still love them just as much!

[bond]

HI - Just to clarify - i don't have a grin to sell but was after general thougts on what is fair to pay as i am after one - when the bank and missus allow !!!!

[benya]

nice print - Id think you would be looking at upward of 2300.........

thoughts??

[numusic]

bond said:

Hi - if you had a pot of cash , what would you pay for a signed Grin ? - It's my favourite but the current £2 + is frightening !! thanks

it aint gonna be getting any cheaper in the forseeable future.. IMO an absolute classic, best quality print by far.

[BK83]

at the end of the day, it only matters that you have a signed print if you intend on keeping it for investment reasons -- if its for the image/art then having a signed or unsigned wouldn't matter, would it ..... really?

[Ågent ßacardi]

jaypaav said:

at the end of the day, it only matters that you have a signed print if you intend on keeping it for investment reasons -- if its for the image/art then having a signed or unsigned wouldn't matter, would it ..... really?

Actually, it would matter... personally for me, at least I would love to own a signed Banksy someday which I would never sell (come to think of it, I probably will never sell any of my unsigned Banksys... but that's besides the point ). Knowing that Banksy personally paid 1.436 seconds' worth of attention on that very print on my wall just makes it so much more special. It's like buying a CD of a band that you really like and getting the band to autograph it. You wouldn't sell it, and it would feel *a lot* different from a regular unautographed CD to you.

[BK83]

agentbacardi said:

jaypaav said:

at the end of the day, it only matters that you have a signed print if you intend on keeping it for investment reasons -- if its for the image/art then having a signed or unsigned wouldn't matter, would it ..... really?

Actually, it would matter... personally for me, at least I would love to own a signed Banksy someday which I would never sell (come to think of it, I probably will never sell any of my unsigned Banksys... but that's besides the point ). Knowing that Banksy personally paid 1.436 seconds' worth of attention on that very print on my wall just makes it so much more special. It's like buying a CD of a band that you really like and getting the band to autograph it. You wouldn't sell it, and it would feel *a lot* different from a regular unautographed CD to you.

when you put it that way -- good call AB. I dont think I could ever sell my autographed Magic Johnson basketball -- without that signature its just a spalding NBA ball. I guess I wasn't thinking when I posted earlier. Onwardsa and upwards with signed prints!! not that prints and basketballas are the same thing... aww fuck it. you know what i'm getting at -- its late and Im rambling.

[bond]

Cheers everyone ;D ;D ;D

[monochrome]

is the signature worth it? of course it is.
if you don't have a signature, would you tell your friends that you've just spent £600 on a 'poster' - that's all that's left at the end of the day.
if you liek pretty pictures buy repro canvases, save a wad of cash and save it for something else - like skunk

[monochrome]

as for 2 unsigned prints for the price of 1 signed - maybe 2 years ago, but most signed go for £3k + these days. unsigned are novelty value posters

[corblimeylimey]

monochrome said:

as for 2 unsigned prints for the price of 1 signed - maybe 2 years ago, but most signed go for £3k + these days. unsigned are novelty value posters

I think thats a bit strong, unsigned are exactly the same, they're limited, printed exactly the same, same paper, etc but not signed.

So what you're saying is the signed are novelty value posters with a signature.

[BK83]

monochrome said:

as for 2 unsigned prints for the price of 1 signed - maybe 2 years ago, but most signed go for £3k + these days. unsigned are novelty value posters

huge difference between art prints and posters, but an interesting way for you to look at it.

J

[numusic]

monochrome said:

as for 2 unsigned prints for the price of 1 signed - maybe 2 years ago, but most signed go for £3k + these days. unsigned are novelty value posters

Nonesense. Unsigned are going for 1k plus, hardly novelty value. People are buying artprints, not autographs. Difference between someone buying a CD because they like the music and someone only buying it if it's signed by the band is one's a dick and the other isn't.

As for the basketball analogy, well.. give me a bunch of street kids actually using the fucking ball over someone who has one in a glass case anyday.

Picture in your minds eye if you will the 2 people with a basketball posing for a photo

1) Guy on a urban bronx court with the ball underarm
2) Guy in a loft next to his glass box






I rest my case

If you want a signature, collect autographs !

[Run Pig Run]

ahahahaha.

[tomhills]

hello everyone. i'm new here. first post, long time lurker. had to get involved in this one, i bought a signed grin reaper yesterday and love it to death, will do for all time. yes it's nice to have the signature but it would have been nice to keep approx £1500 in the bank if an unsigned version existed. but it don't.
i'm rambling a bit now but my point is, i love my unsigned applause because i love it, my grin reaper for the same reason. the signature is totally irrelavant until you come to sell.
if your buyin for a squiggle your in it for the wrong reasons in my view.
what do i know though?
i won't be such a stranger from now on. promise.
p.s any estimates on framing for applause with uv glass? peace.

[manchestermike]

tomhills said:

hello everyone. i'm new here. first post, long time lurker. had to get involved in this one, i bought a signed grin reaper yesterday and love it to death, will do for all time. yes it's nice to have the signature but it would have been nice to keep approx £1500 in the bank if an unsigned version existed. but it don't.
i'm rambling a bit now but my point is, i love my unsigned applause because i love it, my grin reaper for the same reason. the signature is totally irrelavant until you come to sell.
if your buyin for a squiggle your in it for the wrong reasons in my view.
what do i know though?
i won't be such a stranger from now on. promise.
p.s any estimates on framing for applause with uv glass? peace.

Welcome to the madhouse ;D

For some people though the 'squiggle' makes the print, I've got a couple of unsigned prints (applause and grannies) but I'll be moving them on to fund signed prints, either Banksy or Micallef in all probability... I've had opportunities to buy various unsigned Banksy's but often have passed up on as I'd much rather have the print signed

[gordy]

Is a signed print only a better investment??

Art or Money??

[BME]

The signature doesn't affect the image. If it's the image you love it doesn't matter. If it's an investment that you want then I'd try and find a signed print. If it's both then work out which is more important

[manchestermike]

gordy said:

Is a signed print only a better inveatment??

Art or Money??

It's not necessarily the investment. I'd just rather have signed prints than unsigned

[smashedhat]

Does Banksy's signature count as a signature given that it's a pseudonym?

I reckon signed is a better long term investment for the "proper art" world

[gordy]

Fair enough, but it is the same print from the same gallery just not signed!

Don't get me wrong I agree totally with you. I would much rather have a signed print. But a major part of that is because it is also an investment! ;D

Major exception to the rule has to be the 'Flag Print' which is Banksy's best for a long time, even though it is unsigened? ;D

[BME]

yep Manchester, I do understand that- I just forked out £1900 for a signed CND that arrived today. For me it's primarily about the art but the signature does make it feel a bit more special.