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A great confusion exists as to the
difference between limited edition original hand pulled prints
and limited edition machine produced reproduction prints. Limited
edition reproductions are frequently advertised and sold as
limited prints. Therefore it is buyer beware when purchasing
fine art on the market.
An original print is an image created by an artist from a plate,
stone, block or screen. An edition is the total number of prints
to be produced from the plate. After the edition is printed,
each print is numbered and signed in pencil by the artist beneath
the image. The plate is rendered useless once it has been used
to make an edition.
A reproduction is a copy of an original painting, drawing, etc.
The original work is photographed and reproduced by an offset
printing press. There is nothing wrong in selling copies, but
they should be marketed as reproductions or posters. When reproductions
are numbered and signed in the same manner as original prints
and then marketed and sold as “limited edition prints”, consumers
are wrongly led to believe they are purchasing an original piece
of art. It is not illegal to do this, but unethical.
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