ORIGINAL PRINTS: A BRIEF GUIDE

An original print is a work of art traditionally created by hand and printed by hand, either by an artist or a master printer. It is normally produced in a limited number of impressions. The term for this group of prints is edition.

Original prints are signed in pencil by the artist. They are numbered to indicate how many prints there are in the edition and to identify the individual print. This is called the edition number. 4/25 would indicate to the collector that this is number 4 out of an edition of 25. The artist may keep a separate group of prints aside from the edition marked as artist’s proofs. These are marked A/P, sometimes with an edition number after (A/P 2/5) to indicate how many artist proofs there are. During the course of developing the image an artist may pull many experimental images. These are referred to as state proofs, trial proofs, or color proofs. When the image is finally perfected the bon-a ́-tirer (signed B.a.T.) is pulled. This is the image to which the rest of the edition is matched. There is only one B.a.T. and the master printer, if there is one, keeps this print. Some prints are not editioned and are instead printed singularly - these may be labeled 1/1.

Many works are called limited edition prints or limited edition lithographs, but they are not original prints in the traditional sense of the term. They are usually reproductions of art created in another medium and are usually printed on a high-speed offset commercial press. A common form of reproductions called giclées are produced on high-end color printers. Unfortunately, many times these reproductions are signed and numbered by the artist, just like an original print. This practice has led to much confusion in the marketplace. The primary difference between these reproductions and original prints is that reproductions are copies of an artwork that was originally produced in a different medium, whereas original prints are created specifically to be appreciated in the print medium.

If you ever have a question about the authenticity of a print, ask if it is an original print and how it was produced.