BANKSY (BRITISH, b. 1974), ATTRIBUTED
Rude Copper
Screenprint on paper
Signed in black ink; red vertical BANKSY stamp
Numbered 24/250
Circa 2002
Private Collection, Montreal
Iconography
Rude Copper is one of Banksy’s earliest satirical motifs—an image that juxtaposes the icon of the British police constable with a confrontational gesture. The stark black stencil silhouette against a white field exemplifies Banksy’s formative language: concise,socially pointed, and immediately legible.
This print predates the broader institutionalization of Banksy’s market and reflects the raw, anti-establishment tone of his early street and stencil work.
However, as the work has not been submitted to Pest Control Office —the sole body authorized to authenticate Banksy works—it is offered using industry-standard terminology as: “Attributed to Banksy.”
Red Vertical BANKSY Stamp
Consistent with known first-generation POW prints, generally applied before the formalized embossed stamps of later years.
Early Signature
The black ink graffiti-style signature matches validated examples from 2001–2003.
Edition Numbering (24/250)
The edition size for Rude Copper is widely accepted as 250; this numbering aligns with expected distribution.
Correct Stencil Composition
The officer’s helmet, the silhouette crop, and the contour breaks are consistent with known authentic prints.
Provenance
Private Street Art Collection, Montreal
(Acquired through a longstanding collector of early 2000s urban and graffiti art)
Authentication Pathway
Prospective buyers may optionally submit the work to Pest Control Office after purchase.
Only Pest Control can: verify authenticity, issue a COA, unlock full market valuation.
Artwork has not been examined out of frame.
Context & History
Rude Copper dates to circa 2002, one of Banksy’s earliest and most recognizable screenprint images. Produced during the Pictures on Walls (POW) years, before the creation of Pest Control, these early prints were often sold informally and bear features typical of the period—simple black-and-white stencil imagery, graffiti-style signatures, and red BANKSY stamps.
The image of a British police officer giving the middle finger quickly became an emblem of Banksy’s early anti-authority stance and is now viewed as a key work from the artist’s formative street-art era.
Kavanagh Auctions | January, 2026