Dear auctioneer,
Over the past months your auctions have featured prints
by various artists published by 'Suc. Salerno & Hijos'. They are all prints
by prominent artists, including Jean-Michel Basquiat, Andy Warhol, Pierre
Alechinsky. They all bear printed signatures,
are published in large editions (mostly 300), numbered by hand and accompanied
by impressive looking COA’s, with blindstamps, publisher’s signatures and
registration numbers.
Let me point out, however, that there is nothing
'authentic' about these prints. Although presented as ‘lithographs’, they are
simply reproductions of existing works of art, sold quite cheaply. 'Suc.
Salerno & Hijos' is a highly dubious firm. I have not been able to find a
website, which is in itself a bad sign. In their descriptions, however, both
the publishers and the sellers, at various auctions, try to create the
impression that they are in fact selling original prints. Needless to say that this is
highly misleading, if not downright criminal.
It is, of course, up to the auctioneers to decide whether
they want to include such material, but if they are at all serious about the
quality of their auctions, I believe they would do well to reject any such
prints offered to them. Also, the general public should be informed about these practices in
order to prevent them from spending their money on worthless reproductions.
Best regards,
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