Cressida Campbell 'Bush Objects'
Collectors often ask us, what do the numbers and letters on a print mean? And beyond this, how do they relate to a print’s value? Generally speaking, what impression number a print is has no official bearing on the work’s value; although some collectors specifically seek out Artist Proofs or Bon a Tiers. To find out more about printmaking terminology, click here.
Editions and Value
The value of a print is shaped by factors like quality, notoriety and rarity. The collectability of a print for example, will increase if the image is desirable, the artist is acclaimed or the edition length is limited.
If a print run is small, then a print’s value is enhanced by its relative rarity. A publisher may also raise the price of the edition impression incrementally as the edition sells and prints become scarcer. Hence, you may pay more for a later impression in an edition that comes directly from the publisher.
How Many Editions?
Generally speaking, for contemporary art to steadily increase in value the size of the edition is best kept low, perhaps between 10 and 50 editions. Higher limited editions are usually reserved for iconic works from highly collectible artists like Charles Blackman or John Olsen. Because these prints still sell out, these artists can enjoy the fame that a popular print run brings.
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Future Value
Limited edition prints retain and can often increase in value. Whether this is the case however, depends on the artist. Our advice is and has always been, collect art you love – and when or if it appreciates in value, consider it a plus.
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