A selection of rare works by street art legend Banksy is set for an auction that will be held in Newcastle, England on March 20, 2024 by Anderson & Garland Auctioneers.
The selection includes birthday cards, flyers and a shop sign hand-painted by as the BBC notes, “the elusive artist before he became famous.”
Seller Emma Houghton, who knew Banksy before his fame, said sharing her personal collection meant others got to see the “charming and sentimental side” of the artist.
Banksy’s Holywell Row Happy Choppers piece, which was rescued from the side of an office building after it was painted over, is among the 11 lots on sale.
Happy Choppers is a Banksy series that depicts military helicopters adorned with pink bows.
The Holywell Row take was considered a security risk by the owner of the office building it was left on, who had it painted over before selling the building “without mention of its existence”.
The anonymous vendor said he learned of the artwork by chance after purchasing the building.
He said: “We were astounded to discover that our newly purchased office building was the canvas for an artwork of this significance.”
The Happy Choppers piece, which was removed from the wall in sections and preserved, is expected to sell for between £500,000 and £800,000 (approx. $600,000 and $900,00).
