Keith Haring Fertility Suite: Value, Editions & Identification

Keith Haring’s Fertility Suite is one of the most important early print portfolios of his career. Created in 1983, the series combines Haring’s bold line, vibrant color and instantly recognizable figures with imagery centered on pregnancy, birth, children and the creation of life.

For owners, identifying and valuing a Fertility Suite print requires more than recognizing Haring’s imagery. The exact plate, edition number, signature, proof type, condition, provenance, Littmann reference and whether the work belongs to a complete matching set can all affect market value.

If you own a Keith Haring Fertility Suite print or complete portfolio and are considering selling it, the first step is determining exactly what you have.

What Is Keith Haring’s Fertility Suite?

The Fertility Suite was created in 1983 and consists of five large screenprints in colors.

The works feature imagery associated with pregnancy, children, Radiant Baby figures and Haring’s characteristic energetic human forms.

The suite was published by Tony Shafrazi Gallery, New York, an important gallery closely associated with Haring during his career.

Each print is large in scale, with sheets measuring approximately 42 x 50 inches.

How Many Keith Haring Fertility Suite Prints Were Made?

The regular edition consisted of:

100 numbered impressions
15 Artist’s Proofs
Additional documented proof impressions may exist

A standard numbered impression might appear as:

27/100

Artist’s Proofs may be marked:

A.P.

The relatively limited edition size is one factor that contributes to the suite’s collector interest.

Each impression should still be evaluated according to its exact edition or proof designation.

How Many Prints Are in the Fertility Suite?

The complete Keith Haring Fertility Suite consists of five individual screenprints.

Complete matching sets can occupy a different market from individual plates.

When evaluating a complete suite, important considerations include:

Whether all five prints are present
Whether edition numbers match
Consistency of condition
Original title or justification pages
Original portfolio materials
Provenance
Whether the set has remained together historically

If you own several Fertility Suite prints, determine whether they belong to the same numbered set before selling them individually.

Are Keith Haring Fertility Suite Prints Signed?

Yes. Documented impressions from the numbered edition are typically signed and dated in pencil by Keith Haring.

Auction records also document the numbered edition and additional Artist’s Proofs.

One distinctive detail appears on Fertility #4, where documented examples may also carry Haring’s baby icon alongside the signature.

When reviewing a Fertility Suite print, the signature, date and edition number should all correspond with the documented edition.

A signature alone, however, does not establish authenticity.

What Is the Littmann Reference for the Fertility Suite?

Keith Haring’s graphic work is documented in the Littmann catalogue raisonné.

Major auction houses commonly reference the Fertility Suite at approximately Littmann pp. 30–33.

A Littmann reference can help identify:

The exact plate
Date
Medium
Edition information
Related proof impressions
Dimensions
Publication history

The catalogue reference is useful for identification, but it does not independently authenticate a specific physical impression.

The artwork itself should correspond with the documented edition.

Who Published the Keith Haring Fertility Suite?

The suite was published by Tony Shafrazi Gallery, New York.

Tony Shafrazi played an important role in Haring’s early gallery career, and publisher information is an important identifying detail for the suite.

When researching a Fertility Suite print, the publisher should be considered together with:

Signature
Date
Edition number
Paper
Dimensions
Littmann reference
Provenance

What Size Are Keith Haring Fertility Suite Prints?

Documented examples generally measure approximately:

Image: 40½ x 47½ inches
Sheet: 42 x 50 inches

Minor measurement differences can appear in auction cataloguing, so exact dimensions should be checked against the specific plate and impression.

Full sheets and margins can be important to collectors.

A print that has been trimmed or altered may occupy a different market from a full-sheet example.

How Much Is a Keith Haring Fertility Suite Print Worth?

There is no single value for every Fertility Suite print.

Important factors include:

Exact plate
Numbered edition or Artist’s Proof
Signature
Condition
Color quality
Full sheet and margins
Provenance
Matching set vs. individual print
Original portfolio materials
Current collector demand

Individual plates and complete five-print suites can trade at very different levels.

The strongest valuation comparisons come from recent sales of the same plate or complete set with similar edition status and condition.

What Is a Complete Keith Haring Fertility Suite Worth?

Complete suites can command substantially different prices from individual impressions.

For example, Phillips has recorded complete Fertility Suite sets selling for $106,250, $173,000 and $225,000 at different points in the market. These results demonstrate both the significance of complete sets and how dramatically market timing, condition and other factors can affect value.

Past auction results should not automatically be treated as the current value of another suite.

Each set should be evaluated according to:

Edition
Condition
Completeness
Provenance
Original portfolio materials
Current market demand

Are Individual Fertility Suite Prints Valuable?

Yes.

Individual plates from the Fertility Suite are actively collected and sold separately.

Phillips and Christie’s have documented individual prints selling at substantial prices, including examples above their presale estimates.

The market for an individual plate can depend on:

Specific image
Edition number
Artist’s Proof status
Condition
Color quality
Margins
Provenance
Current availability

A single print therefore should be evaluated independently rather than simply assigning one-fifth of a complete suite’s value.

Does the Image Affect Fertility Suite Value?

Yes.

Although all five prints belong to the same portfolio, collector demand may differ between individual compositions.

Factors such as imagery, color combination, visual impact and market availability can affect demand for a particular plate.

Some buyers seek a specific image, while others prefer to acquire the complete portfolio.

For this reason, the exact Fertility Suite plate should be identified before comparing auction results.

How Does Condition Affect Fertility Suite Value?

Condition can materially affect value.

Important issues include:

Fading
Loss of color
Surface rubbing
Staining
Foxing
Creasing
Tears
Trimmed margins
Mounting
Tape or adhesive residue
Restoration
Damage to the signature or numbering

Auction catalogues specifically note details such as whether colors remain bright and fresh, whether margins are complete and whether sheets have been reduced or mounted.

Because the suite relies heavily on vivid color, preservation of the original color can be particularly important.

Do not clean, trim, flatten or restore a Fertility Suite print before obtaining specialist advice.

Does Provenance Affect Keith Haring Fertility Suite Value?

Provenance can help establish the ownership history of a print and provide additional confidence to buyers.

Useful documentation may include:

Original gallery invoices
Tony Shafrazi Gallery documentation
Auction invoices
Collection history
Exhibition labels
Gallery labels
Insurance documentation
Conservation reports
Previous correspondence concerning the artwork

Not every authentic Haring print has extensive paperwork, but existing provenance should always be preserved.

Does the Original Portfolio Box Matter?

It can.

Complete Fertility Suite sets were sometimes accompanied by original portfolio materials, including a screenprinted cardboard portfolio box and title material.

The presence of original portfolio components can make a complete set more desirable to certain collectors.

When evaluating a complete suite, do not discard:

Portfolio box
Title page
Justification page
Publisher materials
Original labels
Historical invoices

These materials can help document completeness and provenance.

How Do I Know If My Fertility Suite Print Is Authentic?

No single characteristic establishes authenticity.

Research should consider the complete artwork, including:

Image
Screenprinting technique
Paper
Sheet dimensions
Signature
Date
Edition number
Proof designation
Publisher
Littmann reference
Provenance
Condition

The artwork should correspond with the documented edition in all meaningful respects.

The Keith Haring Foundation no longer accepts new works for authentication review, so accurate edition research and provenance are particularly important when evaluating Haring prints today.

Numbered Edition vs. Artist’s Proof

Most Fertility Suite impressions belong either to the regular edition of 100 or to the 15 Artist’s Proofs.

Artist’s Proofs are typically marked:

A.P.

They were produced outside the standard numbered edition.

Artist’s Proofs may have different market characteristics because fewer were produced, but proof status alone does not determine value.

Condition, image, provenance and collector demand remain equally important.

What Should I Send for a Keith Haring Fertility Suite Review?

Please send, whenever possible:

Clear photograph of the entire front
Photograph of the reverse
Close-up of Haring’s signature
Close-up of the date
Edition number or proof designation
Full sheet and margins
Dimensions
Labels or inscriptions
Original portfolio materials
Gallery or auction invoices
Provenance
Photographs of any condition issues

If you own more than one Fertility Suite print, send photographs of all of them so we can determine whether they may form a matching set.

Frequently Asked Questions About Keith Haring Fertility Suite

Are Keith Haring Fertility Suite prints valuable?

Yes. Documented Fertility Suite prints can have substantial collector value. The exact value depends on the plate, edition or proof type, condition, provenance and current collector demand.

How many prints are in the Keith Haring Fertility Suite?

The complete suite contains five large color screenprints.

How many Fertility Suite editions were made?

The standard edition consisted of 100 numbered impressions plus 15 Artist’s Proofs.

Did Keith Haring sign the Fertility Suite?

Documented impressions are generally signed and dated in pencil by Keith Haring. Individual works also carry their edition number or proof designation.

What year was the Fertility Suite created?

Keith Haring created the Fertility Suite in 1983, making it an important early print portfolio in his career.

Who published Keith Haring’s Fertility Suite?

The suite was published by Tony Shafrazi Gallery, New York.

Can I sell a single Fertility Suite print?

Yes. Individual plates are actively collected and can be sold separately. You do not need to own the complete five-print suite.

Is a complete Fertility Suite worth more than one print?

A complete matching suite can have different market dynamics from an individual plate because complete sets are less frequently available. Edition matching, condition, original portfolio materials and provenance can all affect the value of the complete set.

Considering Selling Your Keith Haring Fertility Suite?

If you own a Keith Haring Fertility Suite print, Artist’s Proof or complete five-print set and are considering selling it, send us clear photographs and any information you have.

We can review the exact plate, edition, signature, Littmann information, condition, provenance and relevant current market activity.

If the Keith Haring Fertility Suite work is something we are interested in acquiring, we may provide a confidential direct purchase offer.