Early Banksy Blowpop Record (Capoeira Twins – 4 x 3)

	£		620
	$		822

This auction is for an early Banksy stencil sprayed record from 1999.  
Banksy used to share the Timebomb office in Bristol with John Stapleton (whom I know personally), and kindly created the bull-car stencil for him to use on the first 100 promo copies of this record: http://www.discogs.com/Capoeira-Twins-4-x-3/release/2684565. 
Some examples of this stencil on the streets of Bristol survive even today:  http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeyku/5512123573/in/photostream/
Very few of these records are still around (over 11 years on).  The record has been sent to Pest Control, and although they are 'aware of it's existence' they refused to provide a certificate of authenticity (confirming it is an official Banksy artwork) because although he provided the stencil there was no guarantee that he definitely sprayed it himself.  John Stapleton has confirmed this, advising that he sprayed some of them out in the street behind the Blue Mountain club, although I've also heard from another Timebomb employee that Banksy did in fact spray the majority himself (forum post in the links below).  John Stapleton also assured me that the stencil itself was thrown away years ago, making this a rare and collectable piece of Bristol history and Banksy memorabilia.
I got my copy back in the early 2000's from Prime Cuts (a great little record shop in Bristol) and removed the pricetag - which unfortunately damaged the white card sleeve (although the main artwork itself is fine).  Otherwise the condition is very good, and the vinyl (although this isn't really about the record) is mint.  I always meant to cut the main part out and frame it like this other owner has, but I never got around to it: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeyku/5512725732/
Because of it's rarity there is very little information on the internet about this item.  Banksy was a known grafitti artist in Bristol back in the late 90's, but this was before his international fame and hence I'd imagine that a lot of these have been destroyed/lost/binned simply because people didn't realise what it was.  What is known is that approximately 75 were sent out as DJ promos, and the remaining 25 were given out to friends and colleagues of those involved in the release.  However, even Tim from the Capoeira Twins doesn't have a copy any more, so I doubt many of them are left!
A bit more info can be found here: http://www.flickr.com/photos/jeyku/5512725732/in/photostream/ http://banksyforum.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=banksybook&action=display&thread=45945 http://www.hijackbristol.co.uk/board/the-forum/banksy-record-sleeve-sells-for-410/msg1208373/#msg1208373
The high starting price is because I don't *really* want to sell the record; £200 is the minimum I'd accept, and I've seen them go for over £400 in the past.  I'm being pressured a little by my wife to get rid of some of my more valuable 'unnecessary' items so our family can go on our first proper holiday this summer, and it was either this vinyl or my signed Paul Insect 'Outsider' print (which my sister bought me - so that's a no-no).
Please feel free to ask any questions.
I will mail overseas, and will insure it for the price it sells for (so I cannot give an exact price until after the auction ends).  I am honest and fair with my postage prices.  UK will be free postage to the winning bidder, insured up to £500 (if the record sells for more than that I'll raise the insurance accordingly and still cover the cost).

Here are some photo links that show the record, damage and stencil detail in a higher resolution.  These were taken in natural light in my gloomy kitchen this afternoon (without flash).