Signed Banksy up for auction in Wellington

The signed print could go for up to $50,000. Photo / Supplied

Auctioneers expect as much as $50,000 when a signed Banksy print goes under the hammer next week.

A premier edition screen print of Girl with Balloon is being auctioned by Art+Object on April 12.

The print is signed by Banksy, and dated March 9, 2011. It comes with a certificate of authenticity from Pest Control, the handling service Banksy uses to maintain anonymity.

Banksy Girl with Balloon screenprint, 57/600 accompanied by original ‘Pest Control’ certificate of authenticity which is...

Posted by Art+Object on Sunday, 1 April 2018

The auction house says the print comes from a private Wellington collection. It measures 700mm x 500mm, and is expected to sell for between $30-50,000.

The famous Girl with Balloon work was originally painted in London in 2002, in West Bank.

While it is rare for a signed print to be up for sale in New Zealand, an exhibition of the street artist's work was in Auckland for the summer.

The Art of Banksy was curated by former Banksy manager Steve Lazarides. It features 80 pieces of the artist's work, worth around $40 million.

The catalogue for the April 12 auction is available on Art+Object's website.