Sell Andy Warhol Mao Prints

Considering selling an Andy Warhol Mao print? Begin with the color variation, edition markings and condition of your sheet. This guide illustrates all ten screenprints from the 1972 portfolio and explains the details that help identify and value an individual print or complete set.

Our gallery offers a free, confidential valuation for owners considering a sale. Send photographs and any available ownership records to discuss your Mao print and a potential direct purchase offer.

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Which Andy Warhol Mao print do you own?

The 1972 Mao portfolio contains ten color screenprints, catalogued as Feldman & Schellmann II.90–99. Each uses the same portrait of Mao Zedong, transformed through different combinations of color and expressive printed linework.

The portfolio was printed by Styria Studio, Inc., New York. Documented examples from the numbered edition carry Warhol’s ballpoint signature and stamped numbering on the reverse. The back of a framed work can therefore contain essential information that is absent from a front photograph.

The image behind Warhol’s Mao series

Warhol adapted the familiar portrait reproduced in Quotations from Chairman Mao Tse-Tung. In the screenprints, vivid changes to Mao’s face, clothing and background combine with loose, drawn-looking marks. The repeated portrait connects the ten sheets, while each color combination gives its catalogue reference a distinct appearance.

The ten Mao prints from 1972

Compare your print with the images below to locate its F&S catalogue reference. Photography, lighting and fading can alter apparent colors, so include both front and reverse photographs when requesting a review.

Signatures, edition numbers and artist’s proofs

The signature is generally on the reverse of the 1972 portfolio prints. Numbered examples are documented with ballpoint signatures and rubber-stamped edition numbers. Artist’s proofs are also catalogued with pencil signatures and numbering, so the actual markings should be assessed in context.

The catalogue reference and edition number identify different things. F&S II.94 identifies a color composition. A fraction such as 17/250 identifies an impression within the numbered edition. A proof inscription identifies a separate edition category and should be photographed clearly.

Include any copyright, printer or publisher markings, labels and inscriptions visible on the reverse. Brushlike or scribbled marks within the portrait should not be confused with Warhol’s autograph or taken, by themselves, as evidence of hand-painting.

The 1972 portfolio and other Mao works

Warhol’s Mao imagery appears in several kinds of work. The ten square screenprints shown above are the 1972 portfolio. Mao paintings, drawings, wallpaper and reproductions require their own identification; sharing the same subject does not make them the same edition.

Mao wallpaper, 1974

The separate Mao wallpaper, F&S II.125A, was produced for Warhol’s exhibition at the Musée Galliera in Paris in 1974. Wallpaper examples can differ in sheet length, mounting and presentation, and should be assessed separately from the square portfolio prints. See a catalogued wallpaper example.

If your work does not match the ten images, send a photograph of the complete object and any markings. We can begin by identifying the format rather than assuming it belongs to the 1972 edition.

What affects the value of a Warhol Mao print?

A useful assessment begins with the exact colorway and edition status, then examines the condition and ownership history of that impression. A complete portfolio also needs a review of every sheet, its numbering and any surviving original packaging.

• Colorway and edition: the F&S reference, numbered edition or proof designation, and corresponding publication details.
• Color and ink surface: fading, scratches, scuffing, rubbing, ink losses or cracking. Photograph glossy areas from more than one angle to show their condition.
• Paper and edges: staining, foxing, creases, tears, trimming, adhesive and restoration. A mount can hide sheet edges or marks on the reverse.
• Signature and documentation: the actual autograph and edition markings, purchase records, gallery labels and other evidence of ownership.
• Portfolio completeness: which of the ten colorways are present, how their numbering relates, their individual condition and any original box.

Artist’s proof status alone does not guarantee a higher value. The particular image, condition and documentation still matter. For a broader explanation, read our Andy Warhol value guide.

How to sell your Warhol Mao print

You can begin with a single print, a partial group or a complete portfolio. Send the following for an initial review:

1. A complete front photograph. Use even light, avoid filters and include the visible sheet edges and framed presentation.
2. The reverse and edition details. Photograph the signature, numbering, stamps and labels wherever accessible. There is no need to unframe the work for the initial inquiry.
3. Dimensions and condition. Distinguish the paper measurement from the frame measurement, and show close-ups of any fading, creases or surface damage.
4. Available ownership records. Include invoices, certificates or previous sale details. For a portfolio, identify the sheets present and show any original packaging.

Our gallery will review the information and discuss the next steps. If the work is appropriate for our inventory, we can discuss a potential direct purchase offer. Further examination may be needed before an offer is confirmed. There is no obligation to sell.

Learn more about selling an Andy Warhol artwork, or contact our gallery to discuss your print.

Questions from Mao print owners

Can I sell a single Mao print?

Yes. Individual sheets can be reviewed separately; you do not need all ten colorways. Include the F&S reference if known, or send a clear photograph so we can help identify it.

Does the signature need to be visible on the front?

No. Catalogued examples of the 1972 portfolio have signatures on the reverse. A front-only photograph may therefore omit important edition information.

Is an artist’s proof automatically worth more?

No. Proof status is one consideration alongside the colorway, condition, provenance and relevant comparisons. An “A.P.” inscription alone does not establish a premium.

Can you review a print without its original invoice or box?

Yes. An initial photographic review can begin without them. Share any records you have and explain how you acquired the work. Further examination or documentation may be needed before a purchase offer is confirmed.

Explore other Warhol series: Marilyn Monroe  ·  Campbell’s Soup  ·  Flowers