Campbell’s Soup Ii — Andy Warhol

Campbell's Soup II by Andy Warhol

Series Performance & Market Position

Andy Warhol's Campbell's Soup II portfolio commands sustained institutional and private collector interest, representing one of the most accessible entry points into blue-chip Pop Art ownership. Guy Hepner has completed 478 Warhol transactions totaling over $51 million across 292 collectors, providing unmatched insight into pricing dynamics and collector behavior within this specific body of work.

Recent auction activity confirms steady demand across all ten prints in the series. Scotch Broth Soup F.S. II 55 achieved $53,340 at auction in April 2024, demonstrating price stability following its £50,400 result at Christie's in June 2022. Hot Dog Bean Soup F.S. II 59 has traded consistently in the SEK 210,000–220,500 range across multiple appearances between 2017 and 2019. Oyster Stew Soup F.S. II 60 showed notable appreciation, climbing from SEK 88,000 in 2010 to $81,900 in April 2022.

These results sit within a broader Warhol market defined by historic benchmarks. Shot Sage Blue Marilyn (1964) established the artist's ultimate ceiling at $195,040,000 through Christie's in May 2022—the highest price achieved for any twentieth-century artwork at auction. More recently, Mao F.S. II.96 and II.97 each realized $4,648,000 at Christie's in May 2025, while Flowers prints achieved $4,076,000 and $3,832,000 at Sotheby's that same month. Campbell's Soup II offers collectors Warhol's signature iconography at a fraction of these prices while maintaining direct lineage to his most celebrated achievements.

Technical & Historical Context

Published in 1969 by Factory Additions, New York, Campbell's Soup II extended Warhol's decade-long engagement with commercial packaging as fine art subject matter. The portfolio comprises ten screen prints, each measuring 35 x 23 inches (88.9 x 58.4 cm), printed on Lenox Museum Board. The edition size of 250 impressions, each signed and numbered by the artist, established parameters that remain industry standard for Pop Art multiples.

Where the original 1962 Campbell's Soup Cans paintings presented thirty-two uniform canvases in deadpan repetition, this second portfolio introduced chromatic experimentation. Warhol selected lesser-known soup varieties—Scotch Broth, Golden Mushroom, Oyster Stew—rather than the familiar Tomato or Chicken Noodle, deliberately subverting expectations. The mechanical precision of screen printing achieved what Warhol called the "machine look," eliminating gestural evidence while preserving the hand-pulled inconsistencies that distinguish authentic impressions.

Factory Additions operated as Warhol's primary print publisher during this period, producing several definitive portfolios that now anchor institutional collections worldwide. The 1969 publication date positions these works at the intersection of Warhol's commercial peak and his post-Valerie Solanas shooting reassessment of mortality and artistic legacy.

Individual Works & Collector Preferences

The eight works currently available through Guy Hepner represent distinct collecting opportunities within the portfolio. Scotch Broth Soup F.S. II 55 attracts collectors seeking documented auction provenance, with its recent $53,340 result establishing clear market reference. The warm amber and brown palette distinguishes it from the cooler tones dominating Warhol's broader soup can imagery.

New England Clam Chowder Soup F.S. II 57 and Chicken N Dumplings Soup F.S. II 58 appeal to collectors building comprehensive Americana holdings. These regional soup varieties carry nostalgic associations that resonate particularly with American buyers. Hot Dog Bean Soup F.S. II 59 maintains active secondary market presence, with multiple auction appearances establishing liquidity uncommon among prints at this price level.

Golden Mushroom Soup F.S. II 62 and Oyster Stew Soup F.S. II 60 represent the portfolio's more esoteric selections, drawing collectors who appreciate Warhol's deliberate choice of unfamiliar products over commercial bestsellers. Old Fashioned Vegetable Soup F.S. II 54 and Tomato Beef Noodle O's Soup F.S. II 61 complete available inventory, offering collectors entry into the series at various condition grades and price points.

From our transaction history, we observe that collectors frequently begin with a single Campbell's Soup II impression before pursuing complete portfolio acquisition. This pattern suggests the series functions effectively as both standalone artwork and foundational holding.

Authentication & Condition Factors

Authentication for Campbell's Soup II requires verification against the Feldman-Schellmann catalogue raisonné (F.S. II 54–63), the definitive scholarly reference for Warhol prints. Each authentic impression bears Warhol's signature in ballpoint pen on the verso, accompanied by edition numbering and the Factory Additions copyright stamp. The absence of any authentication element warrants immediate scrutiny.

Condition assessment focuses on several series-specific concerns. Lenox Museum Board, while archival quality, remains susceptible to handling damage along sheet edges. Collectors should examine margins for foxing, mat burn from improper framing, and any restoration to corners. The screen printing process occasionally produced subtle color registration variations between impressions—these manufacturing inconsistencies should not be confused with condition defects.

Proper storage and display remain critical. UV-filtering glazing protects against fading, particularly relevant for the yellow and orange inks Warhol employed across this portfolio. Impressions maintaining original vibrancy with minimal handling evidence command premium pricing. Guy Hepner provides comprehensive condition reports with high-resolution imaging for every work offered, ensuring collectors acquire with complete transparency.

Investment Analysis & 2026 Acquisition Strategy

Campbell's Soup II demonstrates the price stability that defines established Warhol print series while offering acquisition costs substantially below his Marilyn, Mao, or Flowers portfolios. The documented appreciation of Oyster Stew Soup F.S. II 60—rising from SEK 88,000 in 2010 to $81,900 in 2022—illustrates long-term value trajectory without the volatility characterizing speculative contemporary positions.

The 2025 Art Basel & UBS Global Art Market Report identifies Warhol as maintaining the highest transaction volume among post-war artists at auction. This liquidity ensures exit optionality rarely available in the broader print market. For collectors building diversified art holdings, Campbell's Soup II provides Warhol exposure at entry-level pricing while benefiting from the same provenance infrastructure supporting his eight-figure paintings.

Current market conditions favor buyers. Increased inventory across auction platforms has moderated pricing, creating acquisition opportunities for patient collectors. We recommend targeting impressions with documented provenance and strong condition grades rather than pursuing lowest-price examples. Quality differential compounds over holding periods—a lesson consistently reinforced across our 478 Warhol transactions.

Acquire Campbell's Soup II through Guy Hepner

Guy Hepner maintains active inventory across this portfolio with immediate availability on select works. For pricing, condition reports, and acquisition guidance, contact our New York team directly. We work with collectors at every level, from first-time Warhol buyers to institutions expanding existing holdings.