THE MARKET/Happy Chopper Auction Results

Market Report

Happy Chopper Auction Results

Updated August 2026

Title: Happy Chopper
Year: 2003
Medium: Screenprint in colors on wove paper
Sheet: 70×50 cm (27 1/2 x 19 3/4 inches)
Printer & Publisher: Pictures on Walls, London
Editions: 750 (of which 150 signed)
Artist's Proofs: 31 signed AP (Lazarides Edition)

Numbering and Signature

Numbered /750 in pencil, lower right

Signed and dated in black ink, lower right

The print

Happy Chopper, 2003

Key market statistics

Happy Chopper (unsigned)

64 transactions since 2018

Most recent sale

£12,228

Jul 2026 · Forum Auctions · XXX/750

2026 median price

£12,228

over 3 qualifying sales

2025 median price

£16,380

over 6 qualifying sales

2025–2026 performance

−25%

change between the two published medians

Peak price

£75,910

Jan 2021 · SBI Art Auction

Value retention

16%

most recent sale as a share of the peak price

Happy Chopper (signed)

20 transactions since 2018

Most recent sale

£36,475

Apr 2026 · Phillips NY · 23/750

2026 median price

£36,475

over 1 qualifying sale

2024 median price

£40,320

over 1 qualifying sale

2024–2026 performance

−10%

2-year change — no qualifying sale in between

Peak price

£106,250

Sept 2020 · Christie's online

Value retention

34%

most recent sale as a share of the peak price

Market charts

Happy Chopper (unsigned) — median price and lots sold

Qualifying sales by year since 2018. Bars: median price. Line: number of lots sold.

Medians are computed on qualifying sales only — artist's proofs, colourways and other exceptional variants are excluded. A year with no bar had no qualifying sale.

Happy Chopper (unsigned) — price dispersion

Every qualifying sale since 2018, one dot per lot.

Where several lots sold at the same price, the dots are spread sideways so none is hidden behind another.

Happy Chopper (signed) — median price and lots sold

Qualifying sales by year since 2018. Bars: median price. Line: number of lots sold.

Medians are computed on qualifying sales only — artist's proofs, colourways and other exceptional variants are excluded. A year with no bar had no qualifying sale.

Happy Chopper (signed) — price dispersion

Every qualifying sale since 2018, one dot per lot.

Where several lots sold at the same price, the dots are spread sideways so none is hidden behind another.

Key Takeaways

Happy Chopper (unsigned)

The auction history of Happy Chopper unsigned combines exceptional liquidity with one of the clearest boom-and-correction cycles in Banksy’s print market. With 64 qualifying transactions recorded since 2018, it is among the artist’s most frequently traded editions. Its visibility is supported by an immediately recognizable image in which a military helicopter is rendered absurdly harmless—or perhaps merely better accessorized—by the addition of a pink bow.

Prices accelerated dramatically during 2020 and remained elevated into 2021 as speculative demand transformed the market for Banksy prints. The auction record was established at SBI Art Auction in January 2021, when an unsigned impression achieved £75,910. Numerous results during the period reached levels far above the edition’s earlier trading range, confirming that the appreciation reflected a broad market repricing rather than a single anomalous sale.

The correction began in 2022 and continued through 2023 and 2024 as the pandemic-era premium progressively disappeared. This adjustment has not yet fully stabilized: the median price declined from £16,380 across six qualifying sales in 2025 to £12,228 across three sales in 2026, representing a further decrease of 25%. The dispersion of the latest results—from £10,265 to £23,045—also indicates that condition, venue and the circumstances of each sale continue to produce significant differences.

The most recent transaction, at Forum Auctions in July 2026, achieved £12,228—approximately 16% of the historical peak. While value retention has been limited, liquidity remains the edition’s principal strength. Happy Chopper continues to attract buyers and appear regularly at auction, but the relatively ample supply places natural limits on price recovery. It remains an important and highly accessible Banksy image whose market strength lies primarily in recognition and tradability rather than scarcity.

Happy Chopper (signed)

The signed edition presents a more concentrated and comparatively resilient market. Only 150 impressions from the numbered edition of 750 were signed, giving collectors the same recognizable anti-war composition with substantially greater scarcity. Twenty qualifying transactions have been recorded since 2018, making Happy Chopper relatively liquid for a signed Banksy edition while preserving a clear premium over unsigned examples.

The market expanded sharply during 2020 as signed impressions moved decisively into six-figure territory. The auction record was established at Christie’s online in September 2020, when an example sold for £106,250. Strong results continued into 2021 and 2022, demonstrating that demand for the signed edition remained elevated even after parts of the broader Banksy print market had begun to soften.

The subsequent correction has been considerable but less severe than that experienced by the unsigned edition. The 2024 median stood at £40,320, while the only qualifying sale recorded in 2026 achieved £36,475 at Phillips New York—a decrease of 10%. Because each figure is based on a single qualifying transaction and no qualifying sale was recorded in 2025, this comparison should be treated as directional rather than as definitive evidence of the market’s trajectory.

The latest result represents approximately 34% of the historical peak, more than twice the value-retention rate of the unsigned edition. This divergence illustrates the protection offered by scarcity and Banksy’s signature once speculative demand recedes. Although additional transactions are required to confirm a stable valuation range, Happy Chopper signed appears to have established a more durable collector base and a stronger long-term price floor than its more readily available unsigned counterpart.

Upcoming Lots

Happy Chopper

Upcoming

Alyes Auctions, Hong-kong · 30 August 2026

Auction results

Banksy

Happy Chopper

numbered XXX/750

Unsigned

Alyes Auctions

30 August 2026

Est. USD 40,000 – 50,000

Bid now

Most recent result — regular edition, unsigned

Forum Auctions · 15 July 2026 — GBP 12,228 / USD 16,555

Happy Chopper (unsigned)

2026 Auction Results

Forum AuctionsXXX/750

15 July 2026

Est. GBP 10,000 – 15,000

GBP 9,000 (Hammer)

GBP 12,228

USD 16,555

Intl Art Center514/750

23 June 2026

New Zealand

Est. NZD 20,000 – 30,000

NZD 24,254

GBP 10,265

USD 13,750

Forum AuctionsXXX/750

17 June 2026

Est. GBP 10,000 – 15,000

GBP 17,000 (Hammer)

GBP 23,045

USD 30,870

2025 Auction Results

Bonhams online626/750

20 November 2025

Est. GBP 12,000 – 18,000

GBP 14,080

USD 18,545

Christie's London465/750

30 September 2025

Est. GBP 12,000 – 18,000

GBP 16,510

USD 22,189

Tate Ward AuctionsXXX/750

13 August 2025

Est. GBP 10,000 – 15,000

GBP 16,250

USD 22,060

Phillips NY523/750

15 April 2025

USA

Est. USD 20,000 – 30,000

USD 25,400

GBP 19,242

USD 25,400

Artnet Auctions350/750

10 April 2025

USA

Est. USD 15,000 – 20,000

USD 17,500

GBP 13,258

USD 17,500

Christie's online221/750

1 April 2025

Est. GBP 12,000 – 18,000

GBP 21,420

USD 27,675

2024 Auction Results

Sotheby's online631/750

26 September 2024

Est. GBP 20,000 – 30,000

GBP 20,400

USD 27,150

Roseberys312/750

5 March 2024

Est. GBP 15,000 – 20,000

GBP 17,056

USD 21,680

Sotheby's London504/750

26 January 2024

Est. GBP 15,000 – 25,000

GBP 19,050

USD 24,225

2023 Auction Results

Sotheby's online504/750

26 September 2023

Est. GBP 15,000 – 25,000

GBP 20,320

USD 24,715

Bonhams London182/750

20 September 2023

Est. GBP 15,000 – 20,000

GBP 19,200

USD 23,780

Artcurial163/750

16 May 2023

France

Est. EUR 20,000 – 30,000

EUR 27,552

GBP 24,042

USD 29,930

Sotheby's online383/750

20 April 2023

Est. GBP 15,000 – 20,000

GBP 21,590

USD 26,875

Bonhams London713/750

19 April 2023

Est. GBP 18,000 – 25,000

GBP 19,125

USD 23,795

Christie's online582/750

14 March 2023

Est. GBP 20,000 – 30,000

GBP 25,200

USD 30,995

2022 Auction Results

Bonhams London474/750

7 December 2022

Est. GBP 20,000 – 30,000

GBP 25,500

USD 31,100

Tate Ward AuctionsXXX/750

17 November 2022

Est. GBP 20,000 – 25,000

GBP 25,000

USD 27,955

Bonhams London662/750

10 November 2022

Est. GBP 18,000 – 25,000

GBP 20,400

USD 23,380

Bonhams London318/750

20 October 2022

Est. GBP 20,000 – 30,000

GBP 25,500

USD 28,780

SBI Art AuctionXXX/750

17 September 2022

Japan

Est. JPY 4,000,000 – 7,000,000

JPY 6,325,000

GBP 38,260

USD 44,245

Forum AuctionsXXX/750

1 September 2022

Est. GBP 20,000 – 30,000

GBP 20,000 (Hammer)

GBP 27,040

USD 31,190

Sotheby's online631/750

17 August 2022

Est. GBP 20,000 – 30,000

GBP 25,200

USD 30,240

Forum AuctionsXXX/750

19 July 2022

Est. GBP 25,000 – 32,000

GBP 24,000 (Hammer)

GBP 32,400

USD 38,950

Tate Ward AuctionsXXX/750

13 July 2022

Est. GBP 25,000 – 35,000

GBP 28,800

USD 35,425

Sotheby's online188/750

26 April 2022

Est. GBP 20,000 – 30,000

GBP 37,800

USD 47,630

Tate Ward AuctionsXXX/750

30 March 2022

Est. GBP 22,000 – 28,000

GBP 30,000

USD 39,600

Christie's online651/750

15 March 2022

Est. GBP 20,000 – 30,000

GBP 32,760

USD 43,245

Bonhams London397/750

3 March 2022

Est. GBP 25,000 – 35,000

GBP 37,750

USD 51,340

Forum AuctionsXXX/750

3 February 2022

Est. GBP 25,000 – 35,000

GBP 30,000 (Hammer)

GBP 40,200

USD 55,075

2021 Auction Results

Forum AuctionsXXX/750

14 December 2021

Est. GBP 28,000 – 35,000

GBP 31,000 (Hammer)

GBP 41,780

USD 55,260

Bonhams London367/750

9 December 2021

Est. GBP 25,000 – 35,000

GBP 31,500

USD 42,525

Bonhams London671/750

11 November 2021

Est. GBP 25,000 – 35,000

GBP 47,750

USD 64,465

SBI Art AuctionXXX/750

30 October 2021

Japan

Est. JPY 35,000,000 – 5,500,000

JPY 10,350,000

GBP 67,270

USD 90,815

Phillips New-York490/750

21 October 2021

USA

Est. USD 15,000 – 25,000

USD 56,700

GBP 42,000

USD 56,700

Mallet Japan645/750

7 October 2021

Japan

Est. JPY 4,000,000 – 6,000,000

JPY 8,388,000

GBP 62,185

USD 83,950

Tate Ward AuctionsXXX/750

29 September 2021

Est. GBP 28,000 – 32,000

GBP 37,500

USD 52,125

Sotheby's online423/750

17 September 2021

Est. GBP 20,000 – 30,000

GBP 47,880

USD 66,555

Intl Art Center569/750

27 July 2021

New Zealand

Est. NZD 70,000 – 100,000

NZD 95,000

GBP 59,110

USD 82,160

Phillips London661/750

14 June 2021

Est. GBP 30,000 – 50,000

GBP 45,360

USD 64,410

Sotheby's London322/750

26 May 2021

Est. GBP 25,000 – 35,000

GBP 37,800

USD 53,600

Forum AuctionsXXX/750

23 April 2021

Est. GBP 30,000 – 50,000

GBP 24,000 (Hammer)

GBP 32,400

USD 44,860

Strauss & Co264/750

13 April 2021

South Africa

Est. ZAR 900,000 – 1,200,000

ZAR 967,300

GBP 48,150

USD 66,250

Christie's online523/750

1 April 2021

Est. GBP 30,000 – 50,000

GBP 50,000

USD 69,450

Sotheby's online689/750

18 March 2021

Est. GBP 10,000 – 15,000

GBP 63,000

USD 87,570

Forum Auctions707/750

5 March 2021

Est. GBP 35,000 – 45,000

GBP 38,000 (Hammer)

GBP 51,160

USD 70,660

Bonhams London352/750

25 February 2021

Est. GBP 25,000 – 35,000

GBP 50,250

USD 70,900

SBI Art AuctionXXX/750Auction Record

31 January 2021

Japan

Est. JPY 2,500,000 – 3,500,000

JPY 10,925,000

GBP 75,910

USD 104,000

Forum AuctionsXXX/750

27 January 2021

Est. GBP 30,000 – 50,000

GBP 60,540

USD 82,880

2020 Auction Results

Bonhams London239/750

10 December 2020

Est. GBP 30,000 – 40,000

GBP 60,250

USD 81,065

Forum AuctionsXXX/750

7 December 2020

Est. GBP 30,000 – 50,000

GBP 42,000 (Hammer)

GBP 56,520

USD 75,470

Tate Ward AuctionsXXX/750

24 November 2020

Est. GBP 30,000 – 40,000

GBP 55,000

USD 72,600

Mainichi195/750

17 October 2020

Est. JPY 2,000,000 – 3,000,000

JPY 8,300,000

GBP 70,850

USD 91,740

Tate Ward AuctionsXXX/750

14 October 2020

Est. GBP 30,000 – 40,000

GBP 55,000

USD 71,600

Sotheby's online278/750

18 September 2020

Est. GBP 10,000 – 15,000

GBP 63,000

USD 83,160

Phillips HK621/750

28 May 2020

Hong-kong

Est. HKD 70,000 – 90,000

HKD 300,000

GBP 29,315

USD 38,700

Tate Ward AuctionsXXX/750

12 May 2020

Est. GBP 18,000 – 22,000

GBP 22,500

USD 27,670

2019 Auction Results

Forum AuctionsXXX/750

11 December 2019

Est. GBP 7,000 – 10,000

GBP 16,000 (Hammer)

GBP 21,632

USD 28,500

SBI Art AuctionXXX/750

26 October 2019

Japan

Est. JPY 1,200,000 – 2,000,000

JPY 2,760,000

GBP 19,275

USD 25,400

Bonhams London673/750 DN

19 September 2019

Est. GBP 7,000 – 10,000

GBP 10,062

USD 12,555

Digard ParisXXX/750

8 April 2019

France

Est. EUR 6,000 – 8,000

EUR 11,700

GBP 10,560

USD 13,175

2018 Auction Results

Forum AuctionsXXX/750

26 September 2018

Est. GBP 6,000 – 8,000

GBP 6,000 (Hammer)

GBP 8,112

USD 10,690

Prior Years Auction Results

Bonhams NY269/750

5 December 2017

USA

USD 11,875

GBP 8,855

USD 11,875

Sworders480/750

1 November 2017

GBP 8,640

USD 11,455

Phillips London582/750

9 June 2016

GBP 5,250

USD 7,595

Est-Ouest Auctions621/750

1 June 2016

Hong-kong

GBP 3,155

USD 4,555

Auctionata Berlin313/750

29 April 2016

Germany

GBP 6,365

USD 9,300

Artnet AuctionsXXX/750

17 December 2015

USA

USD 8,400

GBP 5,630

USD 8,400

Sotheby's London500/750

30 September 2015

GBP 6,250

USD 9,445

Artnet AuctionsXXX/750

20 August 2015

USA

USD 11,040

GBP 7,035

USD 11,040

Phillips London500/750

11 June 2015

GBP 3,750

USD 5,810

Phillips London155/750

22 January 2015

GBP 5,625

USD 8,465

Artnet AuctionsXXX/750

18 December 2014

USA

USD 9,000

GBP 5,750

USD 9,000

Artnet AuctionsXXX/750

6 March 2014

USA

USD 6,840

GBP 4,085

USD 6,840

Christie's London601/750

19 September 2013

GBP 5,250

USD 8,420

Dreweatts469/750

27 June 2013

GBP 2,480

USD 3,780

Mallet Japan349/750

22 February 2013

Japan

GBP 1,675

USD 2,540

Dreweatts382/750

11 December 2012

GBP 3,100

USD 4,990

Christie's London367/750

19 April 2012

GBP 3,500

USD 5,620

Rago490/750

14 May 2011

USA

USD 4,650

GBP 2,875

USD 4,650

Happy Chopper (signed)

2026 Auction Results

Phillips NY23/750

23 April 2026

USA

Est. USD 30,000 – 50,000

USD 49,020

GBP 36,475

USD 49,020

2024 Auction Results

Christie's online63/750

26 March 2024

Est. GBP 30,000 – 50,000

GBP 40,320

USD 51,135

2023 Auction Results

Sotheby's online134/750

26 September 2023

Est. GBP 15,000 – 25,000

GBP 38,100

USD 46,345

Christie's online15/750

14 March 2023

Est. GBP 20,000 – 30,000

GBP 44,100

USD 54,245

2022 Auction Results

Sotheby's online71/750

17 August 2022

Est. GBP 20,000 – 30,000

GBP 44,100

USD 52,920

Phillips London7/750

15 June 2022

Est. GBP 40,000 – 60,000

GBP 50,400

USD 61,992

Sotheby's onlineAside

26 April 2022

Est. GBP 20,000 – 30,000

With the artist’s heart annotation

GBP 56,700

USD 71,442

Forum AuctionsXXX/750

25 April 2022

Est. GBP 55,000 – 80,000

GBP 58,000 (Hammer)

GBP 77,720

USD 97,927

Forum AuctionsAside

3 February 2022

Est. GBP 50,000 – 80,000

inscribed with both a ♡ and ☮︎ symbol in pencil

GBP 68,000 (Hammer)

GBP 91,120

USD 124,834

SBI Art AuctionXXX/750

29 January 2022

Japan

Est. JPY 8,000,000 – 12,000,000

JPY 16,675,000

GBP 105,649

USD 144,740

2021 Auction Results

Forum AuctionsXXX/750

2 September 2021

Est. GBP 50,000 – 70,000

GBP 49,000 (Hammer)

GBP 65,900

USD 91,105

Christie's online37/750

1 April 2021

Est. GBP 30,000 – 50,000

GBP 93,750

USD 129,375

2020 Auction Results

Phillips HK50/750

4 December 2020

Hong-kong

Est. HKD 250,000 – 350,000

GBP 102,985

USD 138,000

Christie's online79/750Auction Record

23 September 2020

Est. GBP 25,000 – 35,000

GBP 106,250

USD 140,250

Forum AuctionsXXX/750

4 September 2020

Est. GBP 40,000 – 60,000

GBP 50,000 (Hammer)

GBP 67,240

USD 88,960

Tate Ward AuctionsXXX/750

27 August 2020

Est. GBP 40,000 – 60,000

GBP 62,500

USD 82,100

2019 Auction Results

Forum AuctionsXXX/750

29 January 2019

Est. GBP 20,000 – 28,000

GBP 28,000 (Hammer)

GBP 37,760

USD 49,400

2018 Auction Results

Bonhams London39/750

18 December 2018

Est. GBP 15,000 – 20,000

GBP 31,250

USD 39,515

Sotheby's NY50/750

10 December 2018

USA

Est. USD 25,000 – 35,000

USD 32,500

GBP 25,875

USD 32,500

SBI Art AuctionXXX/750

3 November 2018

Japan

Est. JPY 2,500,000 – 2,500,000

JPY 7,475,000

GBP 50,900

USD 66,030

Prior Years Auction Results

Forum Auctions NYCXXX/750

12 December 2017

USA

USD 40,560

GBP 30,450

USD 40,560

Artnet Auctions144/750

31 May 2017

USA

USD 32,400

GBP 25,175

USD 32,400

Dreweatts50/750

2 December 2015

GBP 13,020

USD 19,435

Bonhams London4/750

17 June 2015

GBP 11,875

USD 18,650

Bonhams London105/750

4 March 2014

GBP 8,750

USD 14,580

Bonhams London90/750

17 April 2013

GBP 8,750

USD 13,350

Bonhams LA15/750

29 October 2012

USA

USD 8,750

GBP 5,460

USD 8,750

Lyon & Turnbull95/750

25 April 2012

GBP 7,370

USD 11,900

Bonhams London51/750

29 March 2012

GBP 13,125

USD 20,880

Bloomsbury7/750

15 December 2010

GBP 4,940

USD 7,710

Happy Chopper (signed AP)

2019 Auction Results

Bonhams LAAP/24Auction Record

7 May 2019

USA

Est. USD 20,000 – 30,000

USD 40,075

GBP 30,475

USD 40,075

Prior Years Auction Results

Digard AuctionsAP/8

14 December 2014

France

GBP 15,312

USD 19,080

Prices are inclusive of buyer’s premium unless stated otherwise, as reported by the auction houses. “DN” stands for “Duplicate Number”.

Prices are hammer plus premium, in GBP, not adjusted for inflation. Only standard editions are included: artist’s proofs, special proofs, colorways and other exceptional variants are excluded, and signed and unsigned impressions are never combined. Medians are preferred to averages, which exceptional results distort. Figures are drawn from sales documented by Banksy Explained and are not an exhaustive record of the market. Compiled 4 September 2026.

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