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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

FOR A DETAILED ANALYSIS OF AUCTION RESULTS
PLEASE CHECK

Banksy Early Prints (2002-2003): Value by Print

Rude Copper (unsigned) sold 3 times at auction in 2024 at an average price of GBP 17,863 (USD 22,671). It sold for its highest price of 2024 at Forum Auctions on 30 January 2024, for GBP 20,100 (USD 25,490).

Christie’s online: 26 March 2024
Estimated: GBP 12,000 – 18,000
GBP 15,120 / USD 19,176

BANKSY
Rude Copper (unsigned), 2003
Screenprint in black on wove paper
Stamped with the BANKSY tag in red ink
Numbered 212/250 in pencil (only a few impressions from the total edition of 250 were signed)

Rude Copper (unsigned) sold for its highest price of 2020 and its auction record at Forum Auctions on 27 October 2020, for GBP 61,640 (USD 81,365).

Forum Auctions: 27 October 2020
Estimated: GBP 25,000 – 35,000
GBP 46,000 (Hammer)
GBP 61,640 / USD 81,365
AUCTION RECORD FOR RUDE COPPER (UNSIGNED)

BANKSY (b.1974)
Rude Copper (unsigned), 2002
Screenprint in black on wove paper
Stamped Banksy in red ink as issued, numbered from the edition of 250 in pencil

Rude Copper (signed) has sold twice at auction in 2024, it did not sell at auction in 2023, nor in 2022. It sold once at auction in 2021, at Bonhams in London, on 15 October 2021 for GBP 112,750 (USD 155,050).

Tate Ward Auctions: 20 March 2024
Estimated: GBP 40,000 – 60,000
GBP 50,000 / USD 63,411

BANKSY (British 1974-)
Rude Copper (signed), 2002
Screenprint on wove paper
Signed and numbered 220/250 in pencil

Rude Copper (signed) sold at Forum Auctions on 4 September 2020, for its auction record of GBP 167,500 (USD 221,100).

Forum Auctions: 4 September 2020
Estimated: GBP 100,000 – 150,000
GBP 125,000 (Hammer)
GBP 167,500 / USD 221,100
AUCTION RECORD FOR RUDE COPPER (SIGNED)

BANKSY (b.1974)
Rude Copper (signed), 2002
Screenprint in black with unique spray paint in yellow on wove paper
Signed and numbered 2/250 in black ink, stamped with the red Banksy tag as issued

Gallery

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