Marc Quinn, Hand Painted Winter Garden (detail). Estimate: £3,000-4,000. © Christie's Images Ltd. 2008.

LONDON.-Damien Hirst, Peter Doig and the Chapman brothers are amongst the leading contemporary artists who started their printmaking careers with The Paragon Press. On Thursday, 3 April, Christie’s will offer over 120 key contemporary works from Paragon’s archives.

The roll call of artists whose work will be included ranges from Anish Kapoor, Marc Quinn, Gary Hume, Grayson Perry and Chris Ofili to Richard Long, Rachel Whiteread, Damien Hirst, Peter Doig and the Chapman brothers, amongst many others. The majority of the collection consists of rare artist’s proofs, publisher’s proofs and small editions that sold out almost immediately. Several of the artists have personalised their works, with hand colouring, specifically for this sale. With estimates ranging from £500 to £40,000 this is an unprecedented opportunity for both established and new collectors, as well as institutions and museums to acquire some of the most significant contemporary works in print produced in recent years. The collection is expected to realise in excess of £650,000.

The Paragon Press was founded in 1986 by Charles Booth-Clibborn and has grown to be one of the most influential contemporary art publishers. Richard Lloyd and Murray Macaulay, Christie’s Print specialists: “Over the past 21 years The Paragon Press has added significantly to the richness and variety of contemporary printmaking. Booth-Clibborn has imbued Paragon with an inspirational, nurturing ethos which is rare; continually investing time, money and belief in contemporary artists which enables them the freedom to explore the medium of print, in many cases for the first time. This has resulted in artists such as Hirst creating a large body of prints which have evolved into a major part of their oeuvre.”

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Damien Hirst, Methamphetamine, 2004. Estimate: £20,000-25,000. © Christie's Images Ltd. 2008