ABOUT THE CNs (Commemorative Nagel)
The CN stands for "commemorative Nagel". Many who are new to Nagel are not clear that these prints were created after his death in 1984. And as such they are POSTHUMOUS, not hand signed (obviously) and were created in much bigger editions sizes, some as many as 10,000.
However, although posthumous, the good news is that they are actual serigraphs—not cheap lithos like much of what passes for 'nagels' these days—and were printed by the Samper Silkscreen Company (the second printer used by Mirage to print Nagels) in the mid 1980's. Unlike a lot of Nagel posters, these were authorized and published by Mirage Editions, Nagel's publisher. Though posthumous, they are still wonderful works of art and had he not passed, would likely have gone on to become signed and numbered limited editions.
The exact number of this edition isn't known. The first 4 Commemoratives had approximately 3500 or more, and we know the number of prints increased with subsequent CN titles. No one really knew, least of all the publisher, Mirage Editions, what was going to happen. We think at least 5,000 were printed in this edition by Samper Silk Screen.
ABOUT THE CN5
This is the fifth of the commemorative serigraphs released posthumously by Mirage in 1985. The company vowed to do only a 'few' of the CNs. Turns out there were 15. (Nagel’s publisher, Mirage Editions, made more money after Pat passed than they did when he was alive, largely through this CN series.)
This was created for a small gallery about the size of a closet on Main Street in Venice, CA.
The dealer who owned the gallery—a friend of Pat's and Karl Bornstein—went on to establish a very visible, L.A. contemporary gallery.
Of all of the CN series, and for reasons we can't explain, the first five are the most sought after. It may be because they were "in the pipeline" at the publisher, waiting to be released, just as Pat passed. 'B-1' was a big hit.
Measures 24x32"; Never framed, hasn't seen the light of day. High bidder to pay s/h, rolled, FOB San Diego, Ca.
