Limited Edition Prints

Prints made from artists' original pictures are sometimes published in unlimited numbers according to the anticipated market for them, these are known as "open edition prints".

High quality paintings and pictures in other media produced by well known artists are usually printed in a high quality printing method in an "edition" limited to a certain number with a guarantee that no further copies of the artwork will be produced. This produces a "limited edition print" which is generally considered to be a work of art in itself. Such limited editions are very collectable and may increase in value if the popularity of the artist increases and his work becomes more desirable.

The information on a limited edition print will include:

The maximum number of copies in the edition, usually a maximum of 750 in the UK and often less. This number is shown as the bottom part of a "fraction" on the face of the print.

The number within the edition of this particular copy is shown as the top half of the "fraction".For example a print may show 27/350 meaning that this print is number 27 of an edition of 350.

The signature of the artist will be the artist's signature usually in pencil and each individual print will have been signed by the artist. Occasionally instead of a limited edition number there will be a similar number preceded by "AP". This signifies that the print is one of the "Artist's Proofs". These are the initial prints produced by the print run and will be used by the artist to make final adjustments to the printing process, these are often more highly prized than the limited edition prints which follow. For more information about printing techniques go to Fine Art Printing.