Lot #952: ANDY WARHOL - Endangered Species Suite - Color offset lithographs

                   

Artist: Andy Warhol (American, 1928 - 1987).
Title: "Endangered Species Suite [the complete set of 10 announcement/invitation cards in the original printed folder - a "mini portfolio"]".
Medium: Color offset lithographs.
Date: Composed 1983.
Dimensions: Overall size: 6 x 4 1/4 in. (152 x 108 mm).
Pricing:
  Starting Price: $4,000
  Reserve Price: N.A.
  Auction Sale Price Estimate: $6,000/7,000
Lot Note(s): Each signed in black marker by Warhol. Edition unknown, presumed small (250-500?). Light cream wove paper. Full margins as issued. Fine impressions. Very good to fine condition. Literature/catalogue raisonne: Undoubtedly to be included in the forthcoming revised edition of the catalogue raisonne of Warhol's ephemera by Paul Marechal; cf. Feldman/Schellmann II.293-302. Provenance: Property of a New York City (Brooklyn) collector.
Comment(s): This "mini-portfolio" is unusually scarce and highly sought after, especially since the set of 10 ‘Endangered Species’ editioned silkscreens fetched $3,150,000 at Christie's, Shanghai, China (April 25, 2015, lot #122). The “announcement” set is rarely seen – “Gordon’s Print Prices” lists only two sales of a signed set, the most recent auction being Swann Auction Galleries, New York City, May 22, 2018, lot #189, realized $6,750 including premium. Our example with “legible” signatures as requested of Warhol by our consignor when purchasing three regular edition silkscreens from the portfolio. Each card is identified verso with the title, date, etc. The images in the portfolio are: African Elephant, San Francisco Silverspot, Orangutan, Pine Barrens Tree Frog, Giant Panda, Bald Eagle, Siberian Tiger, Black Rhinoceros, Grevy’s Zebra, and Bighorn Ram. Printed by Rupert Jasen Smith, New York City. Published by Ronald Feldman Fine Arts, Inc., New York City. Image copyright © Andy Warhol Foundation for the Visual Arts / Artists Rights Society (ARS), New York. [29004-2-4000-NA]