Original Andy Warhol Handsigned Print Elizabeth Taylor Start Price USD 30,000.00 Current Price USD 30,000.00 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price - Reserve Price - Start Time Wednesday, September 03, 2008 End Time Saturday, September 13, 2008 Location Chicago, IL See more about 'Original Andy Warhol Handsigned Print Elizabeth Taylor' Description     PLEASE READ ENTIRE DESCRIPTION CAREFULLY BEFORE PLACING A BID.  I HAVE DONE MY BEST TO PROVIDE AS MUCH INFORMATION AS POSSIBLE HERE.  SEND A MESSAGE IF YOU HAVE ANY QUESTIONS.  I WILL BE HAPPY TO SPEAK WITH YOU BY PHONE IN ORDER TO BE SURE YOU ARE SATISFIED.     This print has had only one owner, who bought it at the Leo Castelli Fine Art Gallery in New York City in 1964.  It has never been on display.  It was never loaned out for an exhibition.  The print was already signed in pencil before it left the gallery.  When the Indianapolis Museum of Art examined it, they found this the most curious aspect, as apparently this makes the print very unusual.  Since it was purchased, it has been kept in museum-quality storage, with archival and acid-free papers.  The print was not exposed to light, so the colors are not faded.  The only wrinkling is the natural wrinkling where large areas of ink in red and black cover significant portions of the image.  This is a normal part of the printing process.  This print has always been kept in a humidity-controlled environment.  The only flaw this print has is a small tear, which was there at the time of purchase.  It is not something you would notice, unless you were really looking for it.  This is on the right side of the print, about 2/3 up from the bottom, and extends less than 1/2" into the background.  There are no folds or creases of any kind.       While most written material says these prints are 23 1/8" x 23 1/8", the print is actually 23" x 23" as I measured it.  The aqua green around the eyes and red colors are quite vivid, and the print is signed in pencil above the printed signature in the lower right hand corner, as shown in the pictures included in this auction, which are all of the actual piece.  There is no question whatsoever that the pencil signature is in fact graphite.  The pencil signature is NOT a printed one, but definitely signed by hand.  This print comes with a letter of authenticity from the Indianapolis Museum of Art.  The Indianapolis Museum of Art houses an extensive collection of works by Andy Warhol, which can be seen at their web site-  http://www.imamuseum.org/search/mercury/warhol       They also offer a highly reputable provenance research service, which can be seen at their links-  http://www.imamuseum.org/explore/galleries/provenance   A scan of the letter appears below.     Since I am offering this print for sale here for the original owner and am not accepting any commission, it is in the best interest of everyone that you are confident with bidding.  I welcome any questions you may have.  Please feel free to send a message.  It will be answered promptly.  If you would like to call, that is fine as well.  If you are in the Chicago area, you are most welcome to come and inspect this piece in person before placing a bid.  I am literate on matters of fine art, and will do my best to insure your satisfaction.     Shipping costs and crating materials will be paid for by the buyer.  You may select your own delivery service.  The actual shipping cost will vary depending on the service you prefer to use, and could be less or more than the amount listed below.  Buyer will pay for crating materials, but there will be no markup, only the actual cost of the supplies used.   We will ship almost anywhere, with full insurance, unless you plan to arrange to pick it up in person.  We are happy to work with you in any way we can to make sure that whoever buys this gets a lot of enjoyment from it.  As a small piece of American art history of the 1960's culture, it is hoped this will find the right home.  Thank you for taking the time to view this listing.     I have had a number of questions from interested people since this listing began, by email and by phone.  The most common one has to do with the way this one was signed.  People have also been unsure as to how many prints were actually made.  If you do the research, you will quickly discover that there are many conflicting reports concerning the work of Andy Warhol.  His production habits were closely guarded, and he intentionally kept much of this information from the public and his clients.  I have studied the history of Andy Warhol to some extent, enough to know that it is nearly impossible to get definitive and reliable answers to certain questions relating to his work.  He was one of the most eccentric artists in America in the twentieth century.   Historians will continue to speculate on many things.  Andy Warhol was known to give different accounts of the same event, even when speaking with the press.  I thank you for your interest, and am enjoying what I am learning as I research every question the best I can.  Once again, I invite anyone who has questions or comments to send me a message.     One gentleman who was kind enough to call wanted to have the print authenticated by the service he employs in his own area.  While I would like to accomodate anyone who is interested in any way that is feasible, there are obvious limits in practical terms to shipping the print all over the country.  We are willing, however, to have the service provided by a qualified appraiser here in the Chicago area, such as Leslie Hindman Auctioneers.  You can find their web site here-  http://www.lesliehindman.com/services/    Chicago is quite famous as a world art center, with the Art Institute of Chicago, the Museum of Contemporary Art, and so many other cultural institutions.  If there is another service you prefer, and they are within a reasonable distance, please send a message.       Note of interest-Andy Warhol was personal friends with Elizabeth Taylor.  Some people refer to this image as his "Liz."  Ms. Taylor is a highly sophisticated woman and a very accomplished actress, and in real life did NOT appreciate being called "Liz," in any way, ever.        Place a Bid!