How to Spot a Limited Edition Print

A limited edition print is one of a set number of impressions, usually signed and numbered by the artist. Because limited editions often sell for more than open-edition posters, it pays to know what the markings mean and what to watch for. This guide is for buyers at estate sales and auctions and anyone sorting framed prints at home.

Understand what "limited edition" means

An edition is the full set of prints made from the same image. In a limited edition, the artist or publisher sets a maximum number and stops printing. An open edition has no fixed limit and can be reprinted as long as there is demand. Limited editions can include traditional hand-pulled prints, such as etchings, lithographs and screenprints, and modern reproductions, such as giclée prints of an existing painting.

Both can be legitimate, but they are very different things. An original print created by the artist in a printmaking medium is usually valued differently from a numbered reproduction of a painting.

Read the edition number

Edition numbers usually appear in pencil in the lower margin, written as a fraction, such as 25/150. The second number is the edition size, and the first is that particular print's number within it. The number tells you how many were made in that edition, not necessarily the order in which they were printed.

A small edition size can add appeal, but it does not guarantee value. The artist, image, condition and demand matter more.

Learn the proof markings

Besides numbered prints, artists often make a small number of proofs, marked in the margin with abbreviations such as:

• A.P. or E.A.: artist's proof, traditionally kept by the artist.
• P.P.: printer's proof, often given to the printer.
• H.C.: hors commerce, meaning "not for sale," historically used for samples.
• B.A.T.: bon à tirer, the approved proof used as the standard for the edition.
• T.P.: trial proof, made while the image was still being developed.

Proofs are part of the overall print run, so the true total number of impressions can be higher than the edition number alone suggests.

Check the signature

A hand signature is normally in pencil, in the margin below the image, often on the right. Use a magnifying glass to confirm it is actual pencil, which sits on the paper with a slight sheen and indentation, rather than a printed copy. A signature printed as part of the image, called signed in the plate, appears on every copy and is not a hand signature. Some estates also issue posthumous prints with estate stamps instead of signatures.

Look for other marks

• Chop marks or blind stamps: small embossed seals in the margin from the printer or publisher.
• Plate marks: a pressed edge around etchings and engravings from the printing plate.
• Publisher information: names or copyright lines in the margin or on the back.
• Paper: fine art papers may have watermarks or deckled, uneven edges.

Treat paperwork with care

A certificate of authenticity can be helpful, but only if it comes from a reputable source such as the artist, publisher or gallery that sold the print. Certificates are easy to produce, and a certificate alone does not prove anything. Original gallery receipts, publisher documentation and published references listing the edition are generally more meaningful.

Watch for red flags

• Numbering or signatures that look printed rather than written.
• Edition numbers higher than the stated edition size.
• Very large editions marketed as rare.
• Famous names on prints with no publisher or documentation.
• Prints tightly framed so the margins cannot be seen.

For known artists, published catalogs of their prints often list edition sizes, paper, printer and markings. Compare your print with that information, and consult a specialist in works on paper if you suspect value.

Quick checklist

• Find the edition number and edition size.
• Identify any proof markings.
• Confirm the signature is hand-written in pencil.
• Look for chop marks, plate marks and publisher details.
• Value documentation from known sources over generic certificates.
• Check published references for well-known artists.