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Rude Copper, 2002

BY

Rude Copper, 2002
Edition: 250 (50 signed)

‘Some people become cops because they want to make the world a better place. Some people become vandals because they want to make the world a better-looking place’

Rude Copper features a British police officer, easily identifiable with his traditional custodian helmet, showing his middle finger to the viewer. Executed entirely in black and white, the officer’s face partially hidden by the shadow created by his helmet, this print illustrates Banksy’s nuanced relationship with law enforcement. Indeed, the artist’s mural work continues to be illegal, and is still conducted under the veil of secrecy and a fiercely protected anonymity.

 

 

Obviously, Rude Copper has a wider meaning for the artist, warning the public to be wary of any form of organized authority and law enforcement. One can also interpret this image as an illustration of the popular thought of the law’s apparent disdain for the disadvantaged.

 

 
Banksy has extensively used various images of cops in his oeuvre, whether on murals, or originals as obviously he blames most of them for enforcing various policies such as anti-graffiti for example.

Read Police, Cops, and Coppers

 

DESCRIPTION

Rude Copper

Year: 2002
Medium: Screen-print on wove paper
Size: 59×42 cm (23 x 16 1/2 inches)
Publisher: Pictures on Walls

Editions

Edition: 250 (of which approximately 50 are signed)
Approximately 30 hand-finished with unique spray-painting (yellow or grey)
Some with the symbol Anarchy
Numerous Proof Aside from Edition were released

Numbering and Signature 

Numbered in pencil, lower right
Signature in black pen, lower right
Some with the Banksy stamp in red ink
Some numbered /100

RUDE COPPER (ANARCHY)

 

Rude Copper (Anarchy Black)

Rude Copper (Anarchy Yellow)

RELEASE HISTORY

Rude Copper is considered to be the first of Banksy’s commercial prints. Intended to be a run of 100 prints, it was changed to 250 at last minute. Some were hand-finished with unique spray painting, some others were tagged with the “Anarchy” sign, many extras were printed, and around 50 were signed. It was released on two different types of paper.

Banksy, Existencilism, May 2002

Rude Copper was first sold and produced with Steve Lazarides, who was Banksy‘s agent at that time. Since he had no gallery space, he was selling the prints from the boot of his car. Release price was GBP 40.

AUCTION RESULTS

Updated as of 15 March 2023

 

1. Rude Copper (unsigned)

 

 

Rude Copper (unsigned), 2002
Numbered 156/250 in blue pen, lower right
Stamped with the BANKSY tag in red ink, lower right
Sotheby’s online: 26 April 2022
GBP 40,320 / USD 50,803

Rude Copper (unsigned), 2002
Numbered XXX/250 in blue pen, lower right
Stamped with the BANKSY tag in red ink, lower right
Roseberys London: 8 March 2022
GBP 34,840 / USD 47,382

Rude Copper (unsigned), 2002
Numbered 170/250 in pencil, lower right
Stamped with the BANKSY tag in red ink
Sotheby’s online: 18 March 2021
GBP 47,880 / USD 66,553

Rude Copper (unsigned), 2002
Numbered 137/250 in pencil, with the artist’s stamp in red ink, lower right
Bonhams London: 19 June 2020
GBP 30,062 / USD 41,739


2. Rude Copper (signed)


Rude Copper (signed) rarely sells at auction, as Banksy only signed approximately 50 from the main edition. It last sold at Bonhams London on 15 October 2021.

 

Rude Copper (signed), 2002

Signed in black pen, lower right
Numbered 12 in black pen, lower right
Bonhams London: 15 October 2021
GBP 112,750 / USD 155,049

Rude Copper (signed), 2002
With unique spray-paint in Yellow
Signed and numbered 2/250 in black pen, lower right
Stamped with the red BANKSY tag as issued
Forum Auctions: 4 September 2020
GBP 167,500 / USD 221,100

Rude Copper (signed), 2002
With unique spray-paint in Grey
Signed and numbered 1/250 in black ink
Stamped with the red BANKSY tag as issued
Forum Auctions: 21 January 2020
GBP 100,500 / USD 131,115


3. Rude Copper (Hand-Finished)

 

Rude Copper (Hand-Finished), with unique spray-paint in red
Digard Auctions: 10 May 2022
EUR 182,000 / GBP 158,340

Rude Copper (Hand-Finished), with unique spray-paint in orange 
Artnet Auctions: 24 November 2020
USD 215,820 / GBP 160,000

 

Rude Copper (Hand-Finished), 2002
Screen-print with unique spray-paint in red
Stamped with the BANKSY tag in red ink, lower right
Digard Auctions: 10 May 2022
EUR 182,000 / GBP 158,340

Rude Copper (Hand-Finished), 2002
With unique spray-paint in Orange
Unsigned, Proof aside from the Edition of 250
Artnet Auctions: 24 November 2020
GBP 161,160 / USD 215,820

Gallery

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