Gauntlet Gallery
What is D*Face’s piece called “All City Raiders (First Edition)”
Summary
A stark black-and-white screen print built around a circular crew-style emblem: "D*FACE" arcs across the top and "*ALL CITY RAIDERS*" across the bottom, framing a winged central device with halftone dot detailing that reads like a militaristic seal or graffiti-crew insignia. It is an early D*Face work that strips his vocabulary down to a single monochrome badge rather than his later comic-strip lovers or full D*Dog character.
Why It Matters
The print captures D*Face at the moment his street-art identity was crystallizing into a recognizable brand. "All City" is core graffiti lexicon for a writer who has bombed every district of a city, and by formatting that ambition as an official-looking winged seal, D*Face plays the same trick he uses on advertising and celebrity imagery: borrowing the visual authority of institutions and crests to celebrate the outlaw act of getting up everywhere. The winged motif also points forward to the angel wings that recur across his D*Dog iconography, making this an early statement of the language he would build a career on.
Collector Perspective
An edition of 100 from 2005 places this firmly in the early, smaller-run period of D*Face's print output, before his larger contemporary editions. Monochrome badge prints like this are less immediately decorative than his color comic-pop pieces and the fully realized D*Dog images, which tends to keep demand and pricing more measured than his marquee works. That said, its early date and direct connection to street-writing culture give it genuine appeal to collectors who prioritize provenance and the artist's roots over wall impact. A defensible, accessible entry point into the artist rather than a trophy lot.
Historical Context
Made in 2005, during D*Face's early street era as he was emerging from London's flyer-and-sticker scene and around the period he was establishing StolenSpace. The work leans on graffiti's own slang ("all city," "raiders") and the visual grammar of military and institutional seals, turning a crew insignia into a finished print. The winged central device foreshadows the angel wings that became fixtures of his later D*Dog and skull imagery.
FAQ
What does this print depict?
A circular emblem on a black ground: "D*FACE" curves across the top arc and "*ALL CITY RAIDERS*" across the bottom, surrounding a winged central device with halftone-dot shading. It reads like a militaristic seal or graffiti-crew badge.
What does "All City Raiders" mean?
"All City" is graffiti slang for a writer whose work appears across every part of a city. D*Face frames that ambition as an official-looking crest, mixing outlaw street culture with the look of institutional authority.
How large is the edition and what medium is it?
It is a screen print in an edition of 100, issued as the First Edition in 2005.
Is it signed and numbered?
D*Face limited prints are typically hand-signed and numbered, though signing and numbering for this specific impression should be confirmed against the actual print and any accompanying documentation.
Who is D*Face?
D*Face is British street artist Dean Stockton (b. 1978, London), a pop-art provocateur known for defacing comic-book, advertising and celebrity imagery, for motifs like the winged-eyed D*Dog and grinning skulls, and for co-founding the StolenSpace gallery.
Related Works
About the Artist
D*Face is the working name of Dean Stockton (b. 1978, London), a leading figure in British street art. He came up pasting stickers and posters across London in the early 2000s, then built a pop-fuelled visual language that defaces comic-book romance, advertising and celebrity iconography. Recurring motifs include his winged-eyed D*Dog, grinning skulls and doomed comic-strip lovers. His practice spans screenprints, hand-painted multiples, sculpture and large-scale murals worldwide, and he co-founded the StolenSpace gallery in London. His work satirises consumerism, power and our collective obsession with fame.
Collecting D*Face at Gauntlet Gallery
Where can I buy authentic D*Face prints?
Gauntlet Gallery offers an extensive, authenticated inventory of D*Face prints and contemporary editions, with new drops added regularly. Browse the current collection at gauntlet.gallery.
How does Gauntlet Gallery ensure authenticity?
Gauntlet Gallery is built on curation, authenticity and transparency — every work is vetted and its provenance, edition details and condition are disclosed up front.
Does Gauntlet Gallery add new D*Face prints?
Yes. New drops are released regularly across D*Face and other leading artists; see gauntlet.gallery for the latest inventory.