Banksy prints sell intact at stunt-free Paris auction

Auctioneer Arnaud Oliveux reacts at the final price in the bidding of the offset lithograph entitled "Stop and Search" (2007) by British street artist Banksy at the urban art auction organized by Artcurial in Paris, France, October 24, 2018. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

PARIS (Reuters) - Three Banksy prints were sold at a Paris auction on Wednesday - this time without any pranks by the British artist.

Banksy's "Girl with Balloon" painting shredded itself this month just after it was sold for more than 1 million pounds (1.1 million euros) at a London auction.

Organizers at Artcurial auction house in central Paris said they had checked the artworks before the event to ensure that no surprise destruction of the pieces would take place.

Auctioneer Arnaud Oliveux points at the offset lithograph entitled "Stop and Search" (2007) by British street artist Banksy at the urban art auction organized by Artcurial in Paris, France, October 24, 2018. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

However, an Artcurial auctioneer told Reuters last week his company would be delighted if Banksy, whose real identity is unknown, was planning another surprise.

A print of "Stop and Search", depicting Dorothy from "The Wizard of Oz" as well as two other pieces signed by Banksy, "Queen Vic" and "Soup can Yellow/ Emerald/ Brown", sold for more than more than 120,000 euros ($137,000) in total.

Offset lithographs entitled "Queen Vic" (2004) and "Soup Can (Yellow/Emerald/Brown)" (2005) by British street artist Banksy are presented at the urban art auction organized by Artcurial in Paris, France, October 24, 2018. REUTERS/Charles Platiau

(Reporting by Antony Paone; Writing by Matthias Blamont; Editing by Alison Williams)

An offset lithograph entitled "Stop and Search" (2007) by British street artist Banksy is displayed before the opening of the urban art auction organized by Artcurial in Paris, France, October 24, 2018. REUTERS/Charles Platiau