I don't think it is possible really. If people are hell-bent on selling them on, they'll do it.

As long as there's so much money involved in selling Banksy's i don't think the reselling market will ever stop, there's just too much money involved.

For example 3 grand would enable a student to pay their fees for a year, or buy a family a half decent car!

Quite honestly if i had the chance to make that kind of money back when i was at university i'd be buying and selling like mad! It would be the difference between starting your working life debt free, or starting owing 10-20k in debt!

Surely any Sensible person would not buy from ebay unless they can actually see a photo of the number which means the print is in hand. Its the only proof you have that the sale is reall.

I know i would not bid on any print that is not shown to be as described. I would therefore ask every seller for proof that the print is in their pocession.

This could affect prices as i cant see people bidding up to £3K on a print that they cant see the edition number.

I agree, you would want to know the print number and obviously lower print numbers are worth more than higher ones...

So I suppose the ebay business has been effected a fraction...as buyers cant make their sale slightly more attractive than someone elses...

You could argue though, that its not really that diff from buying from POW (assuming the ebay sale goes thru ok)....with POW you dont know what number you are getting either.....

It seems people are willing to pay for them...the ones an ebay now; say something along the lines of...'I dont have the the print in hand but a POW email confirmation'.....

I dont believe that lower numbers (except maybe No 1) are worth any more than later numbers.

They are all the same print at the end of the day.

I dont believe that lower numbers (except maybe No 1) are worth any more than later numbers.

They are all the same print at the end of the day.

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Agreed.

We've discussed this before. Historically lower numbered limited edition prints used to be considered more valuable. This is because they were struck sequentially from a single plate. The plate would wear the more prints were struck. Therefore the earlier prints would often be of a better quality. With most modern printing techniques this isn't an issue. Plus, POW don't actually number their prints sequentially in any event.
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How do you know they get numbered in the order they get printed ?
When they are dry and stacked they can end up in any order.

POW can't stop immediate on-sales completely, but it has already largely discouraged this with its one-print-per-household policy.

POW has also given greater stigma to the activities of the relevant sellers by specifically referring to the problem of touting on its website. This in turn encourages more policing of auctions by members of this Forum and others, and even the deliberate sabotage of auctions. Some people have actually turned into part-time detectives by obtaining information on the sellers (e.g. by bidding on an item and then clicking 'Find Contact Information') and forwarding it to Dora at POW. We are living in a new society of spies and informants. Quite exciting, really, or perhaps a little sad.

Although it is distasteful to purchase a sought-after print and immediately on-sell, I am personally grateful that so-called 'baggers' exist. I have bought from a prominent member of this Forum who must have sold at least three other copies of the same print on eBay. Without these on-sellers, my Banksy collection would be significantly smaller.

No doubt this has been discussed before, but I am not completely clear on the distinction between 'baggers' and other sellers of prints on eBay (or galleries dealing in the secondary market, for that matter). Does the lapse of a certain period of time make selling prints more acceptable? Once the 'decency period' has passed, does that mean sellers are no longer 'baggers' or (in the current market) does holding onto prints longer just mean that some sellers/'baggers' are more commercially astute than others?

Any views?

Maybe to some but to me its the same print. ;D

I aslo dont really see this reflected in E bay sales.

who's to say what an acceptable 'decency period' is, it depends on each individual point of view. However the selling of prints before you even have it in your paws would certainly smack of sheer profiteering and there are plenty of charlatans out there eager to take advantage of the artists generosity in releasing prints at less than market value and the collectors obsession in what should be considered quite a cynical practice.

I however see no problem selling a print later (no time limit specified deliberately here) if you wish to make room in your collection, or are using the increased value to beef up your bargaining power on other pieces of artwork. If you are lucky enough to buy a signed banksy on POW for example, then this puts you in the market for a considerably more expensive Micallef or (insert own artist here) later on and certainly will allow you to add to your collection without adding hugely to your debt.

I really dont believe that POW are trying to stop these ebay sales it would be a crazy move for them and everyone else come to that

OK, the more pieces that are being sold for large amounts on ebay the higher POW and Laz can charge for more Limited prints and Canvases If they stop the re-sale market, nobody will know the current values of anything, and the market will slow and maybe fall is that what POW wants? is that what Banksy wants? No! he sure dunt, coz it appears he was behind the last price rise in the Morons prints ;D
These ebay prices are controlling the market for canvases more than POW or Laz realize

CBL - Completely agree.

From the statements on POW, it looks like Banksy is desperately trying to stick to the principle of "Affordable Art". While one can rightly question whether £650 really can be considered affordable art, there is no doubt that the secondary market for signed Banksy prints is really only accessible by a privileged few.

It's game theory.

I know its all relative, but 500 quid is alot more affordable than 3 grand+.

;D Kingdomcome,

Yeah, I think some people are coming to terms with the fact that they cant afford any new Banksy pieces (thats me ) and we also have some that have loads of money so never need to sell any prints, but aint fast off the mark buying the prints in the first place, but then feel a bit about giving anyone else say twice the amount of money for a piece further down the line People jumping on the band wagon just that bit too late

Im pretty much out of getting any new Banksy's dint get any of the last 4 but I aint worried about anyone else getting them and not me ;D good luck to them! Im gonna buy stuff from other artists that I can afford ;D