Batsford to publish 'fascinating' book on Banksy’s lost works

Batsford has acquired Banksy’s Lost Works: On the Trail of his Vanishing Street Art by journalist and author Will Ellsworth-Jones. 

Managing director David Graham bought world all-language rights from the author, and the book is due to publish on 13th February 2025 in hardback. There has also been international interest in Banksy’s Lost Works, with editions already confirmed for France, Germany, Japan and South Korea.

"Art by Banksy attracts media coverage from all over the world, as seen this summer when a series of animal-themed artworks appeared in locations across London," the synopsis says. "Some of them only last a few hours before being removed or stolen. Showcasing the often mysterious disappearances of works by one of the art world’s more elusive figures and filled with beautiful photography to immortalise them, Banksy’s Lost Works is a truly indispensable addition to the library of any street-art fan."

Ellsworth-Jones said: "As Banksy has become ever more famous, so too has his artwork become ever more precarious. No sooner does Banksy spray a wall than rivals are attempting to obliterate it, dealers trying to sell it or thieves trying to pinch it. My book documents the key works we have lost and the extraordinary story of what happened to them."

Graham commented: "It’s great to be working again with Will. This book, chronicling the works by Banksy you can no longer see, provides a fascinating global survey of the most important works sold, destroyed or stolen and is a timely reminder of Banksy’s wit and acute social commentary."