Does the number on lithograph matter? (2024)

Does the number on lithograph matter?

Artists typically now number their prints so that collectors will know that this print edition is limited and that their print is part of the official edition. The numbering of a print does not in itself make that print any more or less valuable, but it does give collectors some important facts about the print.

What do the numbers on a lithograph mean?

Numbered Print

It shows the number of the print and the total number of prints in the edition. For example '25/500' means the print is number 25 within an edition of 500. Limited edition prints are usually numbered in pencil to reduce risk of fraud as computers cannot trace pencil marks.

Are original lithographs numbered?

Original stone lithographs can also be referred to as hand-pulled lithographs and are hand-drawn on limestone or marble. To incorporate more than one color, multiple stones must be used. After each edition is hand-printed, the artist will sign and number each print.

How can you tell if a lithograph is valuable?

The value or price of a lithograph depends on the quality of the art work, the quality of the paper and how successfully the print was made. The reputation of the artist who produced the print sometimes has a bearing on the price and so does the reason the print was made.

Which print number from an edition would be expected to be the most valuable?

The Size of the Edition

For example, if your print has 33/150 mark – that means it is the 33rd print in the group (edition) of 150 prints. The first print is often the most valuable one, since art collectors consider it to be the closest to the artist's original idea.

How do I identify an old lithograph?

Identification is all about the dot patterns. If you observe randomly placed dots, you're looking at a hand lithograph. If the dots make a pattern, then you're seeing an offset lithograph.

Are numbered prints valuable?

Artists typically now number their prints so that collectors will know that this print edition is limited and that their print is part of the official edition. The numbering of a print does not in itself make that print any more or less valuable, but it does give collectors some important facts about the print.

What is the difference between a lithograph and an original lithograph?

A lithograph is a piece of art that involves drawing an image onto a plate. These plates can be made from several materials, but the most common is a piece of limestone or metal. Depending on the method used, original lithograph art is created by treating the hand-drawn image with a special solution.

Are lithographs worth more than prints?

A lithograph print is more affordable but still carries a tag of exclusivity, quality and value as there is almost certainly not going to be many copies. It's not something that is mass produced. Potentially, a lithograph print will have a limited quantity, perhaps be numbered and even signed by the artist.

Is a lithograph an original print?

The short answer is that a lithograph is a form of print, a type of printing process during which original works of art can be printed and reproduced. The final product is also known as a lithograph, which is an authorised copy of an original work created by an artist or other skilled craftsmen.

How do I know if my print is valuable?

What are the disadvantages of lithograph?

Are all prints lithographs?

There are many different types of prints, and the process is constantly evolving, but the four best-known techniques are etching, lithography, screenprint and woodcut.

Are lower numbered prints more valuable?

Smaller Editions Are More Valuable

For example, a print by Frank Stella from an edition of 30 will be more valuable than a similar work from an edition of 100. The size of an edition can range considerably depending on the physical limitations of the artist's technique as well as collector demand for the artist's work.

What does AP mean on a lithograph?

The initials 'AP' instead of a number at the bottom of an image means 'artists' proof'. With artists' prints these are a necessary part of the production process, where proofs are taken until the artist is happy with the print.

Is an artist proof worth more than a lithograph?

In most cases, an artist's proof is more valuable due to this smaller amount. Another critical difference is artist's proofs may not perfectly match when compared with the original artwork or the limited-edition prints. These discrepancies contribute to their uniqueness and ultimately to the increased value.

How can you tell if a numbered print is real?

After printing, the artist will go back over the prints and hand number and sign them in order, usually in pencil and usually outside of the plate mark, in the margin of the paper. Never buy a so-called limited-edition print without being able to see the edition number. It might be a photomechanical copy instead.

What are the basic characteristics of lithograph?

A printing process based on the fact that grease and water don't mix. The image is applied to a grained surface (traditionally stone but now usually aluminium) using a greasy medium: such as a special greasy ink – called tusche, crayon, pencils, lacquer, or synthetic materials.

What is an antique lithograph?

The image is applied to a grained surface (traditionally stone) using a greasy medium, such as a special greasy ink – called tusche. A solution of gum arabic and nitric acid is then applied over the surface, producing water-receptive non-printing areas and grease-receptive image areas.

What is a signed and numbered lithograph?

Most modern lithographs are signed and numbered to establish an edition. An offset lithograph, also known as a limited edition print, is a reproduction by a mechanical process, in which the artist has in no way contributed to the process of making an original print: that is, he has not designed the plate.

What does EA mean on a lithograph?

E.A. stands for “épreuve d'artiste,” meaning Artist's Proof in French. H.C. stands for hors commerce, or “not to sell.” Similar to an artist's proof, this proof was set aside from the editioned prints.

What is an artist proof lithograph?

In order to create an edition of prints, the matrix is used repeatedly to make multiple impressions of the image. An artist's proof is a print that is made using the same matrix as the regular edition but is set aside and marked as an artist's proof rather than being numbered and included in the main edition.

Is a lithograph done by the artist?

Lithography is a unique art form where artists draw with greasy materials on a stone. The stone is then chemically treated to establish where water and ink will go. The drawing is replaced with ink, creating a beautiful print. This process allows for detailed and subtle artwork.

How can you tell lithograph or etching?

Both are prints, but they are made using different techniques. In a lithograph, the image to be printed is drawn or painted on a stone or metal plate using a crayon or grease-based ink, rather than being engraved on it, as in an etching.

What does signed lithograph mean?

A hand signed print, such as a lithograph or linocut, is hand signed by the artist who created the work after it was printed. Many artists such as Pablo Picasso, Marc Chagall, Henri Matisse, and Jasper Johns hand signed their lithographs.