Andy Warhol Campbell's Soup Can on a Shopping Bag For Sale
Andy Warhol: Campbell's Soup Can on a Shopping Bag
Series Performance Opening
Few works encapsulate Warhol's commercial genius quite like the Campbell's Soup Can on a Shopping Bag series—editions that literalize the artist's collapse of fine art and consumer culture onto the most banal of retail surfaces. At Guy Hepner, our 478 Warhol transactions totaling over $51 million across 292 collectors have given us unparalleled insight into how these unconventional substrates perform against Warhol's broader print market.
Auction records from Guy Hepner data confirm sustained institutional and private interest: Campbell's Soup Can (Tomato) F.S. II 4A (1966) achieved USD 1,683,500 in November 2022, while the same edition realized EUR 1,032,000 in December 2025. The 1964 F.S. II 4 variant has tracked identical pricing, demonstrating remarkable market parity between the two catalogue raisonné entries.
These results sit within Warhol's extraordinary broader market trajectory. Christie's May 2022 sale of Shot Sage Blue Marilyn (1964) at $195,040,000 established the benchmark for any 20th-century artwork at auction. More recently, Mao F.S. II.96 and II.97 each commanded $4,648,000 at Christie's in May 2025, while Sotheby's moved Flowers editions at $4,076,000 and $3,832,000 that same month. The shopping bag works occupy a distinct collecting category—unconventional material, conceptually potent, and increasingly scarce at auction.
Technical & Historical Context
The Campbell's Soup Can on a Shopping Bag editions emerged during Warhol's most prolific printmaking period. The 1964 F.S. II 4 represents an early iteration of the iconic tomato soup motif translated onto a commercial paper shopping bag, while the 1966 F.S. II 4A variant refined the concept with subtle technical modifications. Both employ screen printing directly onto the bag surface, preserving the handles and structural form of the original retail object.
Dimensions vary across the series: the primary editions measure 19 1/4 x 17 inches, with an additional variant at 23 5/8 x 16 7/8 inches (60 x 43 cm). This dimensional inconsistency reflects the found-object nature of the substrate—Warhol worked with existing commercial bags rather than commissioning uniform materials.
The conceptual weight here is considerable. By placing his most recognizable Pop motif onto an actual shopping vessel, Warhol completed a circular gesture: the soup can, already removed from the supermarket shelf into the gallery, returns to the transactional space of commerce. It remains one of his most intellectually rigorous statements on art's commodity status.
Individual Works
Campbell's Soup Can (Tomato) F.S. II 4 (1964) — The earliest edition in this grouping, the 1964 work carries particular historical significance as a transitional piece between Warhol's initial Campbell's paintings and his mature print production. Collectors prize this variant for its proximity to the original 1962 paintings that defined Pop Art's emergence. At 19 1/4 x 17 inches, it presents well in intimate settings while maintaining institutional credibility.
Campbell's Soup Can (Tomato) F.S. II 4A (1966) — The later variant demonstrates Warhol's continued engagement with the shopping bag substrate two years after the initial edition. Available in both the standard 19 1/4 x 17 inch format and the larger 23 5/8 x 16 7/8 inch presentation, the 4A offers collectors dimensional options rarely found within a single Warhol series. The larger format has attracted particular attention from collectors seeking statement pieces without the seven-figure commitment of unique works.
From our experience placing these works, buyers gravitate toward the 1964 edition when building historically rigorous collections, while the 1966 variants appeal to those prioritizing visual impact and condition—the later works having spent less time in circulation before entering serious collections.
Authentication & Condition
Authentication of the shopping bag works requires specialized expertise. The Andy Warhol Foundation catalogue raisonné distinguishes F.S. II 4 from F.S. II 4A, and proper documentation must reference the correct designation. Foundation stamps, where present, should appear on the verso; however, many examples predate systematic stamping protocols. Provenance tracing becomes essential for unstamped works.
Condition assessment demands particular scrutiny given the fragile substrate. Paper shopping bags were never engineered for archival permanence—they yellow, tear at fold points, and suffer handle degradation. Museum-quality examples will show minimal toning, intact handles, and no surface abrasions to the printed image. Conservators experienced with Warhol multiples can stabilize minor condition issues, though interventions affect value.
Collectors should expect professional condition reports addressing: substrate integrity, handle attachment, color retention of the screen-printed image, and any evidence of previous conservation. At Guy Hepner, we provide comprehensive condition documentation and facilitate independent third-party assessment upon request for all shopping bag editions.
Investment Analysis
The shopping bag series occupies a strategic position within Warhol's market. While flagship prints like Marilyn and Mao command eight-figure prices at Christie's and Sotheby's, the Campbell's Soup Can on a Shopping Bag editions offer entry into Warhol's conceptual core at a fraction of that threshold. The November 2022 result of USD 1,683,500 establishes a ceiling that remains accessible to serious private collectors while confirming institutional validation.
According to the Art Basel & UBS Global Art Market Report, Warhol consistently ranks among the top-performing artists globally by auction turnover. The shopping bag works benefit from this sustained demand while remaining differentiated by their unconventional substrate—a factor that insulates them from direct competition with standard print editions.
For 2026 acquisition strategy, we advise clients to prioritize condition over variant. Both F.S. II 4 and F.S. II 4A have demonstrated equivalent auction performance; exceptional preservation will drive long-term appreciation more decisively than the two-year date distinction. Supply remains constrained, and examples in strong condition rarely surface publicly.
Acquire Campbell's Soup Can on a Shopping Bag
Guy Hepner maintains active inventory and established sourcing relationships for this series. To discuss available works, request condition reports, or explore acquisition timing, contact our New York team directly. We advise collectors at every level of the market and offer discreet placement for those building institutional-caliber Warhol holdings.
