Andy Warhol — Myths For Sale

Created in 1981, Andy Warhol's Myths portfolio (Feldman & Schellmann II.257–266) is one of the most conceptually ambitious print projects of his later career. Across ten prints, Warhol assembled a complete survey of twentieth-century American cultural mythology — the fictional, folkloric and commercial figures that populated the collective imagination of his generation.

What Is the Myths Series?

The portfolio brings together ten icons drawn from film, television, advertising, comic books and folklore: Mickey Mouse, Howdy Doody, The Star (Greta Garbo as Mata Hari), Mammy, Santa Claus, The Shadow, Dracula, The Witch, Superman and Uncle Sam. Taken together, they form a deliberate catalogue of modern American myth — the characters through which a nation told stories about heroism, fear, commerce and fantasy. Warhol treats these invented figures with the same iconographic gravity he once gave to Marilyn or Mao, suggesting that in the American century, fictional characters had become as culturally potent as any real person.

One of the most celebrated images, The Shadow, incorporates Warhol's own silhouette — a characteristically sly act of self-mythologising that places the artist among his pantheon of cultural phantoms.

Edition and Production Details

Each print in Myths measures 38 × 38 inches and is printed on Lenox Museum Board, frequently embellished with diamond dust for a glittering, tactile surface. The portfolio was published by Ronald Feldman Fine Arts, New York, and printed by Rupert Jasen Smith, New York — Warhol's principal printer of the 1980s.

The edition structure is important for collectors to understand:

• 200 signed and numbered impressions — the primary collected edition.
• 200 unsigned impressions.
• 30 trial proofs (TP) plus artist's proofs — unique or near-unique colour variants.

Trial Proofs and Premiums

The trial proofs ("TP") carry a significant premium over the standard unsigned edition. Because each trial proof explores an alternative colourway, these impressions are effectively unique works and are prized accordingly by sophisticated collectors. When evaluating a Myths print, the distinction between a signed edition impression, an unsigned impression and a trial proof is the single most important factor in valuation.

Most Sought-After Images

• Mickey Mouse — the broadest collector base of the entire portfolio and the most consistently in demand.
• Superman — a powerful, instantly legible image with strong cross-market appeal.
• Santa Claus — perennially popular, with demand that intensifies around the holiday season.

Market and Price Context

Complete Myths portfolios are rare and command a substantial premium when they appear, but individual prints remain widely accessible, making the series an attractive entry point into Warhol's 1980s output. Pricing varies considerably by image, edition type and condition — with Mickey Mouse, Superman and Santa Claus at the upper end, and trial proofs achieving the strongest results of all. The series is increasingly recognised by the market as evidence of Warhol's continued cultural acuity in the final decade of his life, and demand has strengthened accordingly.

Authentication

Authentic Myths prints are documented in Feldman & Schellmann (II.257–266) and should display the correct dimensions, Lenox Museum Board support, and — for the signed edition — Warhol's pencil signature and numbering. Trial proofs are annotated "TP" and require careful verification. As always, provenance, condition reporting and catalogue references are essential, and we advise acquiring only impressions with verifiable documentation.

Acquiring a Warhol Myths Print

Guy Hepner handles Myths prints across the full range of images and edition types, from accessible single prints to rare trial proofs and complete portfolios. Whether you are drawn to Mickey Mouse, Superman or a specific trial-proof colourway, our specialists can advise on availability, edition distinctions and current market value. View available Andy Warhol Myths prints for sale or contact the gallery to discuss a particular image.