STRONG PRICES AND 20 NEW RECORDS SET IN PHILLIPS’ JUNE EDITIONS & WORKS ON PAPER SALE SHOWCASE THE STRENGTH OF THE MARKET FOR EDITIONS America 250, A Dedicated Chapter of the Auction Celebrating the Country’s 250th Anniversary, Sells 100% by Lot, Led by Roy Lichtenstein’s I Love Liberty Competitive Bidding Drives Strong Results for Roy Lichtenstein, Damien Hirst, Alex Katz, Robert Rauschenberg, and Joel Mesler, Among Others New York, 24 June 2026 Sale Total: $1,444,026 / £1,096,858 / €1,271,711 Lots Sold: 140 | Lots Offered: 157 | Sold by Lot: 89% | Sold by Value: 97% |
Roy Lichtenstein I Love Liberty, 1982 Estimate: $40,000–60,000 Sold for $212,850 | 
Damien Hirst The Souls on Jacob’s Ladder Take Their Flight, 2007 Estimate: $80,000–120,000 Sold for $122,550 |
Kelly Troester and Cary Leibowitz, Deputy Chairpersons and Worldwide Co-Heads of Editions, said, “This afternoon’s sale opened with great enthusiasm for AMERICA 250, a dedicated section that brought together a dynamic group of works reflecting the complexity and richness of American visual culture in honor of the country’s 250th anniversary. We were thrilled to see such strong engagement from collectors, with the section achieving a 100% sell-through rate, led by Roy Lichtenstein’s I Love Liberty, which realized more than five times its estimate to lead the sale, and Robert Rauschenberg’s Signs, which achieved over four times its pre-sale expectations. Momentum continued with especially strong interest for the contemporary works in today’s auction. The selection of works by Damien Hirst saw solid results, led by The Souls on Jacob’s Ladder Take Their Flight at $122,550. Joel Mesler’s Untitled (Pool Party) drew fierce competition on the phones and online, nearly tripling its low estimate at $28,380. Overall, the sale reflected a vibrant start to the summer season, with 97% sold by value showed strong participation and spirited bidding underscoring the continued depth of demand across the editions market. We look forward to the fall season beginning in September with Editions auctions in London and October in New York.” Top Ten Lots Lot | Description | Estimate | Price Achieved | 9 | Roy Lichtenstein, I Love Liberty, 1982 | $40,000–60,000 | $212,850 | 40 | Damien Hirst, The Souls on Jacob’s Ladder Take Their Flight, 2007 | $80,000–120,000 | $122,550 | 13 | Robert Rauschenberg, Signs, 1970 | $25,000–35,000 | $109,650 | 92 | Alex Katz, Flowers, 2021 | $50,000–70,000 | $64,500 | 30 | After Jean-Michel Basquiat, Piano Lesson, from Superhero Portfolio, 1982-87/2022 | $40,000–60,000 | $41,280 | 39 | Damien Hirst, Methamphetamine, 2004 | $20,000–30,000 | $41,280 | 20 | Andy Warhol, Van Heusen (Ronald Reagan), from Ads, 1985 | $25,000–35,000 | $33,540 | 96 | Gerhard Richter, Abstraktes Bild, 1990/2014 | $20,000–30,000 | $33,540 | 25 | Joel Mesler, Pool Party, 2025 | $10,000–15,000 | $28,380 | 27 | Mel Bochner, It Doesn’t Get Any Better Than This, 2014 | $20,000–30,000 | $28,380 |
New Auction Record Highlights Lot | Description | Estimate | Price Achieved | 9 | Roy Lichtenstein, I Love Liberty, 1982 WORLD RECORD FOR THE EDITION | $40,000–60,000 | $212,850 | | *previous record price: $165,000 set in 2005 | 40 | Damien Hirst, The Souls on Jacob’s Ladder Take Their Flight, 2007 WORLD RECORD FOR THE EDITION | $80,000–120,000 | $122,550 | | *previous record price: $95,000 set in 2009 | 13 | Robert Rauschenberg, Signs, 1970 WORLD RECORD FOR THE EDITION | $25,000–35,000 | $109,650 | | *previous record price: $85,000 set in 2023 | 2 | Ed Ruscha, Made in U.S.A. or America, Her Best Product, from Kent Bicentennial Portfolio: Spirit of Independence, 1974-75 WORLD RECORD FOR THE EDITION | $12,000–18,000 | $24,510 | | *previous record price: $19,000 set in 2009 | 91 | Chuck Close, Self-Portrait, 2015 WORLD RECORD FOR THE EDITION | $10,000–15,000 | $23,220 | | *previous record price: $18,000 set in 2025 |
| Exchange Rate on 24 JUNE 2026: US$1 = £1.317, €1.159, HK$7.840 | 
ABOUT PHILLIPS Phillips: where the world’s curious and bold connect with the art, design, and luxury that inspires them. As a leading global platform for buying and selling 20th and 21st century works, Phillips offers dedicated expertise in the areas of Modern and Contemporary Art, Design, Photographs, Editions, Watches, and Jewels. Auctions and exhibitions are primarily held in New York, London, Geneva, and Hong Kong, with representative offices based throughout Europe, the United States, and Asia. Phillips offers a regular selection of live and online auctions, along with items available for immediate purchase. Phillips also offers a range of services and advice on all aspects of collecting, including private sales and assistance with appraisals, valuations, and financial planning. Visit phillips.com for further information. *Estimates do not include buyer’s premium; prices achieved include the hammer price plus buyer’s premium.
PHILLIPS NEW YORK – 432 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10022 PHILLIPS LONDON – 30 Berkeley Square, London, W1J 6EX PHILLIPS HONG KONG – G/F, WKCDA Tower, West Kowloon Cultural District, No. 8 Austin Road, West Kowloon | FOLLOW US ON:    
  
WeChat |
#phillipsauctionsale#fineartmagazineblog.bogspot.com#sunstormfineartmagazine.com #artfunsale#artfunauction#artfunjoy |
|
