London’s Ganymed Press produced a total of 16 signed editioned lithographs during the 1960s in small runs of around 75 from drawings that Lowry made specifically for reproduction.
“The Ganymed lithographs are seemingly the most sought after, although they vary enormously in terms of achievable prices with buyers very aware of what imagery they are prepared to pay the most money for,” said Stephen Sparrow, paintings specialist at Cheshire saleroom Peter Wilson.
One Ganymed rarity, The Pavilion, a signed two-tone 19in x 2ft (48 x 61cm) lithograph, was published in an edition of 75 and seldom appears on the secondary market. An example from this edition was offered at Peter Wilson (22% buyer’s premium) on April 11 and achieved £10,300 against a £4000-6000 estimate.
“The Pavilion I think appears to be the most unusual of this series. Certainly, in terms of examples having come on to the auction market, there have only been a handful over the years. Ours was the highest price ever achieved at auction for this print,” said Sparrow.
It was consigned with four other Ganymed lithographs, all of which sold for four-figure sums, by a private collector who had acquired them over the years from galleries around the country.
