(3 Oct 1998) English/Nat

Millionaire British author Jeffrey Archer is putting up for sale part of one of the largest private collections of Andy Warhol paintings in the world.

But the centrepiece of the show, a Warhol portrait of Diana, Princess of Wales, is not up for grabs.

Archer secretly bought the valuable Warhol collection over seven years.

He stunned the art world last week by disclosing first that he had acquired
the collection of three hundred paintings - then announced that almost all of it was to be sold.

That the world's most famous woman was a subject for an Andy Warhol portrait, should come as no surprise.

After all he painted many famous faces - from Jackie Kennedy and Marilyn Monroe to Mickey Mouse.

But few knew Warhol had done portraits of Princess Diana and the Prince of Wales.

Today they are part of Jeffrey Archer's private Warhol collection, most of which is to be put up for sale.

SOUNDBITE (English)
"I shall keep special ones. Diana is not for sale. There are ones that I have fallen in love with that I won't let go. But it is going to be a normal commercial sale."
SUPER CAPTION: Jeffrey Archer

When Archer first got news that a green Diana Warhol existed he set out to find it.

After a long search he bought it from the Warhol Foundation.

It was part of the legendary pop artist's private collection.

SOUNDBITE: (English)
"I said to my staff well we have got to get it, we have got to get the green Diana. I want the Black Marilyn, I want the tomato soup, but I want the green Diana. And then discovered there was a Charles as well and that there were three drawings. Two drawings of Diana and one of Charles. And they were the proof that it was the first one and they were the proof that it was the one owned by Warhol. After a lot of detective work and bargaining and fun here they are."
SUPER CAPTION: Jeffrey Archer

Postcards of the Diana portrait will go on sale to the public, with the proceeds going to the Red Cross anti-landmine campaign which the Princess did so much to publicist.

Archer bought his first Warhol in 1991 and has since teamed up with a small group of other collectors with a keen eye for Warhol.

Warhol died in 1987 but the popularity of his work has never waned.

He was a cult figure of the sixties art scene and his brightly coloured portraits of objects and faces made him a master of the new pop art technique at the time.

Warhol prints are still highly sought after around the world.

Archer refused to speculate just how much he will raise through the sale.

Some estimate as much as twenty million pounds.

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